MADRIGAL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (MDGL) FY 2022 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.
The Risk Factors in Part I, Item 1A and disclosures under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” within this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the audited financial statements and accompanying notes, included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read together. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. As disclosed in this report, our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and in the “Risk Factors” sections contained in Part I, Item 1A in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our operating results are not necessarily indicative of results that may occur for the full fiscal year or any other future period.
About Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Our Focus. We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing novel therapeutics for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. Our lead product candidate, resmetirom, is a proprietary, liver-directed, selective thyroid hormone receptor-ß, or THR-ß, agonist being developed as a once-daily oral pill for the treatment of NASH.
Our Patient Market Opportunity. NASH is a serious inflammatory form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. NAFLD has become the most common liver disease in the United States and other developed countries and is characterized by an accumulation of fat in the liver with no other apparent causes. NASH can progress to cirrhosis or liver failure, require liver transplantation and can also result in liver cancer. Progression of NASH to end stage liver disease will soon surpass all other causes of liver failure requiring liver transplantation. Importantly, beyond these critical conditions, NASH and NAFLD patients additionally suffer heightened cardiovascular risk and, in fact, die more frequently from cardiovascular events than from liver disease. NASH and NAFLD have grown as a consequence of rising worldwide obesity-related disorders. In the United States, NAFLD is estimated to affect approximately 25% of the population, and approximately 25% of those will progress from NAFLD to NASH. Current estimates place NASH prevalence at approximately 22 million people in the United States by 2024, with similar prevalence in Europe and Asia. The prevalence of NASH is also increasing in developing regions due to the adoption of a more sedentary lifestyle and a diet consisting of processed foods with high fat and fructose content.
Our Completed Studies. For NASH, we enrolled 125 patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial with resmetirom. We achieved the 12-week primary endpoint for this Phase 2 clinical trial and reported the results in December 2017, and we reported positive topline 36-week results at the conclusion of the Phase 2 clinical trial in May 2018. We also completed a 36-week, open-label extension study in 31 participating NASH patients from our Phase 2 clinical trial, which included 14 patients who received placebo in the main study.
On December 18, 2019 the Company announced it had opened for enrollment MAESTRO-NAFLD-1, a 52-week, non-invasive, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical study of patients with biopsy-confirmed or presumed NASH recruited from sites in the U.S. Key endpoints are safety, including safety biomarkers. Secondary endpoints include LDL cholesterol, lipid biomarkers, MRI-PDFF, NASH and fibrosis biomarkers. Except for serial liver biopsies, the study protocol is similar to the MAESTRO-NASH study (discussed below under “—Our Ongoing and Planned Studies”), with resmetirom doses of 80 mg or 100 mg or placebo. Enrollment objectives for this study were exceeded, with approximately 1,300 patients enrolled overall. The MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 study will help support the adequacy of the safety database at the time of NDA submission for Subpart H approval for treatment of patients with NASH with fibrosis. In November of 2021, we
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reported data from the open label non-cirrhotic arm of MAESTRO-NAFLD-1, and in January 2022 we announced that we achieved primary and secondary endpoints for the double-blind portion of MAESTRO-NAFLD-1, as summarized in “- Key Developments” below.
Our Ongoing and Planned Studies. On March 28, 2019, the Company announced that it had initiated MAESTRO-NASH, a Phase 3 trial in NASH with its once daily, oral thyroid hormone receptor beta selective agonist, resmetirom. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study is being conducted at more than 220 sites in the United States and the rest of the world. MAESTRO-NASH is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study of resmetirom in patients with liver biopsy-confirmed NASH and was initiated in March 2019. The subpart H portion of the study enrolled more than 1,000 patients with biopsy-proven NASH (at least half with F3 (advanced) fibrosis, the remainder F2 or F1B (moderate fibrosis) with a few earlier F1 patients), randomized 1:1:1 to receive once-daily resmetirom 80 mg, resmetirom 100 mg, or placebo. After 52 weeks of treatment, a second liver biopsy is performed. The dual primary surrogate endpoints on biopsy are NASH resolution with ≥2-point reduction in NAS (NAFLD Activity Score), and with no worsening of fibrosis OR a 1-point decrease in fibrosis with no worsening of NAS. Achievement of either primary endpoint is considered a successful trial outcome. A key secondary endpoint is lowering of LDL-C. All patients enrolled in the MAESTRO-NASH study (up to 2,000 in total) continue on therapy after the initial 52-week treatment period for up to 54 months to accrue and measure hepatic clinical outcome events including progression to cirrhosis on biopsy (52 weeks and 54 months) and hepatic decompensation events, as well as all-cause mortality. In December 2022, we reported topline results from the subpart H portion of the study: resmetirom achieved both primary endpoints with both daily oral doses, 80 mg and 100 mg, relative to placebo, as summarized in “- Key Developments” below.
On July 13, 2021 we announced first patient dosed in a planned 52-week open label active treatment extension study of MAESTRO-NAFLD-1, named MAESTRO-NAFLD-Open Label Extension (OLE). The OLE study allows patients who complete MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 to consent to 52 weeks of active treatment with resmetirom, making this treatment available to both patients who were assigned to placebo in MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 and patients who were on resmetirom in MAESTRO-NAFLD-1.
In August 2022, Madrigal initiated MAESTRO-NASH-OUTCOMES, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in approximately 700 patients with early NASH cirrhosis to allow for noninvasive monitoring of progression to liver decompensation events. A positive outcome is expected to support the full approval of resmetirom for noncirrhotic NASH, potentially accelerating the timeline to full approval. In addition, this study has the potential to support an additional indication for resmetirom in patients with well-compensated NASH cirrhosis.
Key Developments
In December 2022, Madrigal announced topline results from the pivotal Phase 3 MAESTRO-NASH biopsy study of resmetirom. Madrigal reported that resmetirom achieved both primary endpoints with both daily oral doses, 80 mg and 100 mg, relative to placebo. For additional details on these topline results and other recent developments, see: “Business: Key Developments.”
Basis of Presentation
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses primarily consist of costs associated with our research activities, including the preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates. We expense our research and development expenses as incurred. We contract with clinical research organizations to manage our clinical trials under agreed upon budgets for each study, with oversight by our clinical program managers. We account for nonrefundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development
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activities as expenses when the service has been performed or when the goods have been received. Manufacturing expense includes costs associated with drug formulation development and clinical drug production. We do not track employee and facility related research and development costs by project, as we typically use our employee and infrastructure resources across multiple research and development programs. We believe that the allocation of such costs would be arbitrary and not be meaningful.
Our research and development expenses consist primarily of:
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| • | salaries and related expense, including stock-based compensation; |
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| • | external expenses paid to clinical trial sites, contract research organizations, laboratories, database software and consultants that conduct clinical trials; |
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| • | expenses related to development and the production of nonclinical and clinical trial supplies, including fees paid to contract manufacturers; |
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| • | expenses related to preclinical studies; |
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| • | expenses related to compliance with drug development regulatory requirements; and |
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| • | other allocated expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for depreciation of equipment and other supplies. |
We expect to continue to incur substantial expenses related to our development activities for the foreseeable future as we conduct our clinical studies programs, manufacturing and toxicology studies. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials, additional drug manufacturing requirements, and later stage toxicology studies such as carcinogenicity studies. Our research and development expenses have increased year over year in each of 2020, 2021, and 2022 and we expect that our research and development expenses will increase substantially in the future. The process of conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials necessary to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time consuming. The probability of success for each product candidate is affected by numerous factors, including preclinical data, clinical data, competition, manufacturing capability and commercial viability. Accordingly, we may never succeed in achieving marketing approval for any of our product candidates.
Completion dates and costs for our clinical development programs as well as our research program can vary significantly for each current and future product candidate and are difficult to predict. As a result, we cannot estimate with any degree of certainty the costs we will incur in connection with the development of our product candidates at this point in time. We expect that we will make determinations as to which programs and product candidates to pursue and how much funding to direct to each program and product candidate on an ongoing basis in response to the scientific success of early research programs, results of ongoing and future clinical trials, our ability to enter into collaborative agreements with respect to programs or potential product candidates, as well as ongoing assessments as to each current or future product candidate’s commercial potential.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation expenses for employees, management costs, costs associated with obtaining and maintaining our patent portfolio, professional fees for accounting, auditing, consulting and legal services, and allocated overhead expenses.
We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we expand our operating activities, maintain and expand our patent portfolio and incur additional costs associated with being a public company and maintaining compliance with exchange listing and SEC requirements. We expect these potential increases will likely include management costs, legal fees, accounting fees, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance premiums and expenses associated with investor relations.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to accrued research and development expenses. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors that are believed to be 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 materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs are comprised of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including internal costs (including stock-based compensation), costs for consultants, milestone payments under licensing agreements, and other costs associated with the Company’s preclinical and clinical programs. In particular, the Company has conducted safety studies in animals, optimized and implemented the manufacturing of our drug, and conducted Phase 1-3 clinical trials, all of which are considered research and development expenditures. Management uses significant judgment in estimating the amount of research and development costs recognized in each reporting period. Management analyzes and estimates the progress of its preclinical studies and clinical trials, completion of milestones events per underlying agreements, invoices received and contracted costs when estimating the research and development costs to accrue in each reporting period. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates. The Company’s historical estimates for research and development costs have not been materially different from the actual costs.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense based on the grant date fair value of stock options granted to employees, officers and directors. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the grant date fair value as management believes it is the most appropriate valuation method for its option grants. The Black-Scholes model requires inputs for risk-free interest rate, dividend yield, volatility and expected lives of the options. The expected lives for options granted represent the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The Company uses the simplified method for determining the expected lives of options. Expected volatility is based upon an industry estimate or blended rate including the Company’s historical trading activity. The risk-free rate for periods within the expected life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The Company estimates the forfeiture rate based on historical data. This analysis is re-evaluated at least annually and the forfeiture rate is adjusted as necessary.
Certain of the employee stock options granted by the Company are structured to qualify as incentive stock options (ISOs). Under current tax regulations, the Company does not receive a tax deduction for the issuance, exercise or disposition of ISOs if the employee meets certain holding requirements. If the employee does not meet the holding requirements, a disqualifying disposition occurs, at which time the Company may receive a tax deduction. The Company does not record tax benefits related to ISOs unless and until a disqualifying disposition is reported. In the event of a disqualifying disposition, the entire tax benefit is recorded as a reduction of income tax expense. The Company has not recognized any income tax benefit for its share-based compensation arrangements due to the fact that the Company does not believe it is more likely than not it will realize the related deferred tax assets.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Revenue
We did not generate any revenue during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Operating Expenses
The following table provides comparative results of our operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| Research and Development Expenses | $ | 245,441 | $ | 205,164 | 40,277 | 20 | % | |||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | 48,130 | 37,318 | 10,812 | 29 | % | |||||||||||
| Interest (Income) | (2,185 | ) | (363 | ) | 1,822 | 502 | % | |||||||||
| Interest Expense | 3,964 | — | 3,964 | 100 | % | |||||||||||
| Other (income) | — | (273 | ) | (273 | ) | (100 | %) | |||||||||
| $ | 295,350 | $ | 241,846 | 53,504 | 22 | % |
Research and Development Expense
Our research and development expenses were $245.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $205.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Research and development expenses increased by $40.3 million in the 2022 period due primarily to the additional activities related to our Phase 3 clinical trials, an increase in headcount, and an increase in stock compensation expense. We expect our research and development expenses to increase as we advance our clinical and preclinical development programs for resmetirom.
General and Administrative Expense
Our general and administrative expenses were $48.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $37.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. General and administrative expenses increased by $10.8 million in the 2022 period due primarily to increases in commercial preparation activities, including corresponding increase in headcount, and an increase in stock compensation expense. We believe our general and administrative expenses may increase over time as we advance our clinical and preclinical development programs for resmetirom, prepare for commercialization, and expand our operating activities, which will likely result in an increase in our headcount, consulting services, and related overhead needed to support those efforts.
Interest Income
Our interest income was $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in interest income was due primarily to a higher average principal balance in our investment account in 2022 and increased interest rates.
Interest Expense
Our interest expense was $4.0 million for year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in interest expense was as a result of the Loan and Security Agreement (“Loan Facility”) we entered into with Hercules during the second quarter of 2022.
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Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Revenue
We did not generate any revenue during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Operating Expenses
The following table provides comparative results of our operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
| Research and Development Expenses | $ | 205,164 | $ | 184,809 | 20,355 | 11 | % | |||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | 37,318 | 21,864 | 15,454 | 71 | % | |||||||||||
| Interest (Income) | (363 | ) | (4,329 | ) | (3,966 | ) | (92 | %) | ||||||||
| Other (income) | (273 | ) | (100 | ) | 173 | 173 | % | |||||||||
| $ | 241,846 | $ | 202,244 | 39,602 | 20 | % |
Research and Development Expense
Our research and development expenses were $205.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to $184.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Research and development expenses increased by $20.4 million in the 2021 period due primarily to the additional activities related to our Phase 3 clinical trials, an increase in headcount, and an increase in stock compensation expense. We expect our research and development expenses to increase as we advance our clinical and preclinical development programs for resmetirom.
General and Administrative Expense
Our general and administrative expenses were $37.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to $21.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. General and administrative expenses increased by $15.5 million in the 2021 period due primarily to increases in commercial activities, including a corresponding increase in headcount, and an increase in stock compensation expense. We believe our general and administrative expenses may increase over time as we advance our clinical and preclinical development programs for resmetirom, prepare for commercialization, and expand our operating activities, which will likely result in an increase in our headcount, consulting services, and related overhead needed to support those efforts.
Interest Income
Our interest income was $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in interest income was due primarily to a lower average principal balance in our investment account in 2021 and decreased interest rates.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since inception, we have incurred significant net losses and we have funded our operations primarily through the issuance of convertible debt, the issuance of shares of our common stock and shares of our preferred stock, and the proceeds from the merger. Our most significant use of capital pertains to salaries and benefits for our employees, including clinical, scientific, operational, financial and management personnel, and external research and development expenses, such as clinical trials and preclinical activity related to our product candidates.
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As of December 31, 2022, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaling $358.8 million compared to $270.3 million as of December 31, 2021, with the increase attributable to our fundraising activities, including net proceeds of $155.9 million from our $200 million at-the-market sales agreement entered into in June of 2021, with Cowen and Company, LLC (the “2021 Sales Agreement”), net proceeds of $99.5 million from our registered direct offering (“Registered Direct Offering”) of shares of our common stock and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”) in December 2022, and $50.0 million drawn on our Loan Facility, partially offset by cash used in operating activities. Our cash and investment balances are held in a variety of interest-bearing instruments, including obligations of U.S. government agencies, U.S. Treasury debt securities, corporate debt securities and money market funds. Cash in excess of immediate requirements is invested in accordance with our investment policy with a view toward capital preservation and liquidity.
We anticipate continuing to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future. While our rate of cash usage will likely increase in the future, in particular to support our product development and clinical trial efforts, we believe our available cash resources as of December 31, 2022 will be sufficient to fund our operations past one year from the issuance of the financial statements contained herein. Our future long-term liquidity requirements will be substantial and will depend on many factors. To meet future long-term liquidity requirements, as well as maintain compliance with certain of our Loan Facility covenants, we will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations through equity or debt financings, collaborations, partnerships or other strategic transactions. We regularly consider fundraising opportunities and may decide, from time to time, to raise capital based on various factors, including market conditions and our plans of operation. Additional capital may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all. We also have the ability to delay certain research activities and related clinical expenses if necessary due to liquidity concerns until a date when those concerns are relieved. If adequate funds are not available, or if the terms of potential funding sources are unfavorable, our business and our ability to develop our product candidates would be harmed. Furthermore, any sales of additional equity securities may result in dilution to our stockholders, and any debt financing may include covenants that restrict our business.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our net cash flow activity (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (224,857 | ) | $ | (183,917 | ) | $ | (157,561 | ) | |||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 206,686 | (5,055 | ) | 159,780 | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 313,451 | 171,237 | 5,088 | |||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | $ | 295,280 | $ | (17,735 | ) | $ | 7,307 |
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $224.9 million, $183.9 million, and $157.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The use of cash in these periods resulted primarily from our losses from operations, as adjusted for non-cash charges for stock-based compensation, and changes in our working capital accounts. Net cash used in the year ended December 31, 2022 increased from prior years predominately due to escalated clinical trial related activity.
Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities was $206.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and consisted primarily of $350.4 million from sales and maturities of marketable securities, partially offset by $ $143.5 million of purchase of marketable securities for our investment portfolio.
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Net cash used in investing activities was $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and consisted primarily of $394.1 million of purchase of marketable securities for our investment portfolio, partially offset by $389.3 million from sales and maturities of marketable securities.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $159.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and consisted primarily of $489.5 million from sales and maturities of marketable securities, partially offset by $329.3 million of purchase of marketable securities for our investment portfolio.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $313.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 and consisted primarily of sales of our common stock under the 2021 Sales Agreement and Registered Direct Offering in December, and debt borrowings under our Loan Facility.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $171.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and consisted primarily of sales of our common stock under the 2021 Sales Agreement and the exercise of stock options.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and consisted primarily of sales of our common stock under our at-the-market sales agreements with Cowen and Company, LLC and the exercise of stock options.
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
As of December 31, 2022, we had contractual obligations and commercial commitments as follows (in thousands):
| Payments Due by Period | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contractual Obligations | Total | Less Than 1 Year | 1 - 3 Years | 4 - 5 Years | More Than 5 Years | ||||||||||||||
| Operating Leases | 622 | 622 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total contractual Obligations | 622 | 622 | — | — | — |
Operating leases relate to our corporate headquarters facility located in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
In May 2022 we entered into the $250.0 million Loan Facility with the several banks and other financial institutions or entities party thereto (each, a “Lender” and collectively referred to as the “Lenders”), and Hercules Capital, Inc. (“Hercules”), in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent for itself and the Lenders. As of December 31, 2022, we had drawn $50 million under the facility. We are scheduled to pay interest-only monthly payments of accrued interest under the Loan Facility through May 1, 2025, which period may be extended to May 1, 2026 and May 3, 2027 upon the achievement of our regulatory approval milestone and future revenue milestones, and subject to compliance with applicable covenants.
The Company has entered into customary contractual arrangements in support of the Phase 3 clinical trials.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
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