Basis Of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis Of Presentation

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Sangamo Biosciences, Inc. ("Sangamo" or the "Company") have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2011. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2010 were derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in Sangamo's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2010, included in Sangamo's Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC.

Use of Estimates and Classifications

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including critical accounting policies or estimates related to revenue recognition, clinical trial accruals, and share-based compensation. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other market specific and other relevant assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued updated revenue recognition standards for arrangements with multiple elements. The revised guidance provides for two significant changes to the existing multiple-element arrangements guidance. The first relates to the determination of when the individual deliverables included in a multiple-element arrangement may be treated as separate units of accounting. This change is significant as it will likely result in the requirement to separate more deliverables within an arrangement, ultimately leading to less revenue deferral. The second change modifies the manner in which the transaction consideration is allocated across the separately identifiable deliverables. These changes are likely to result in earlier recognition of revenue for multiple-element arrangements than under previous guidance. These new standards are effective for annual periods ending after June 15, 2010 and were effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. There were no significant new arrangements or modification of existing arrangements from the effective date through September 30, 2011. Accordingly, the new standards did not have any material impact on revenue recognition.