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Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Sangamo

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (the Company) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on June 22, 1995 and is focused on the development and commercialization of novel transcription factors for gene regulation and gene modification. Sangamo's gene regulation and gene modification technology platform is enabled by the engineering of a class of transcription factors known as zinc finger DNA-binding proteins (ZFPs). Potential applications of Sangamo's technology include development of human therapeutics, plant agriculture and enhancement of pharmaceutical protein production. Sangamo will require additional financial resources to complete the development and commercialization of its products including ZFP Therapeutics.

Sangamo is currently working on a number of long-term development projects that will involve experimental and unproven technology. The projects may require several years and substantial expenditures to complete and ultimately may be unsuccessful. The Company plans to finance operations with available cash resources, funds received under research grants and collaborations and strategic partnerships, and from the issuance of equity or debt securities. Sangamo believes that its available cash, cash equivalents and investments as of December 31, 2011, along with expected revenues collaborations and strategic partnerships, will be adequate to fund its operations through 2013. Sangamo will need to raise substantial additional capital to fund subsequent operations and complete the development and commercialization of its products either through significant corporate partnerships, research grants or issuance of equity securities. Sangamo may seek to raise additional capital when conditions permit; however, there is no assurance funding will be available on favorable terms, if at all.

Basis of Presentation

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. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sangamo and its wholly owned subsidiary, Gendaq Limited, after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Sangamo considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less at the purchase date to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of deposits in money market investment accounts, government sponsored entity debt securities, US Treasury debt securities and corporate bank accounts.

Marketable Securities

Sangamo classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale and records its investments at estimated fair value based on quoted market prices or observable market inputs of almost identical assets, with the unrealized holding gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

The Company's investments are subject to a periodic impairment review. The Company recognizes an impairment charge when a decline in the fair value of its investments below the cost basis is judged to be other-than-temporary. The Company considers various factors in determining whether to recognize an impairment charge, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than the Company's cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and the Company's intent and ability to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in the market value. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in other (expense)/income, which is determined using the specific identification method.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts for financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short maturities. Marketable securities are stated at their estimated fair values, based on quoted market prices for the same or similar instruments. The counterparties to the agreements relating to the Company's investment securities consist of the US Treasury, various major corporations, governmental agencies and financial institutions with high credit standing.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets (generally three to five years). For leasehold improvements, amortization is calculated using the straight-line method based on the shorter of the useful life or the lease term. The Company reviews its property, plant and equipment assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiary, Gendaq Limited, is the U.S. dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities which are denominated in foreign currency are remeasured at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Nonmonetary assets and liabilities, if any, are remeasured at the historical exchange rates. Income and expenses are remeasured using the average exchange rate for the period. Gains and losses from remeasurement of the foreign subsidiary's financial statements are recorded as other income / (expense). During the third quarter of 2009, the cash balance held at Gendaq was transferred to Sangamo's U.S. investment account, eliminating foreign currency remeasurement gains and losses.

In 2011 and 2010, the Company did not record foreign currency remeasurement gains or losses. In 2009, the Company recorded a foreign currency remeasurement gain of $0.3 million.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss is comprised of net loss and other comprehensive income (loss) which primarily consist of unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities. Comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 is included in the statement of stockholders' equity.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from research activities made under strategic partnering agreements and collaborations is recognized as the services are provided when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue generated from research and licensing agreements typically includes upfront signing or license fees, cost reimbursements, minimum sublicense fees, milestone payments and royalties on future licensee's product sales.

Multiple Element Arrangements prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition—Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (ASU 2009-13). For revenue arrangements entered into before January 1, 2011, that include multiple deliverables, the elements of such agreement were divided into separate units of accounting if the deliverables met certain criteria, including whether the fair value of the delivered items could be determined and whether there was evidence of fair value of the undelivered items. In addition, the consideration was allocated among the separate units of accounting based on their fair values, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are considered separately for each of the separate units of accounting. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2009-13, the Company recognized nonrefundable signing, license or non-exclusive option fees as revenue when rights to use the intellectual property related to the license were delivered and over the period of performance obligations if the Company had continuing performance obligations. The Company estimated the performance period at the inception of the arrangement and reevaluated it each reporting period. Changes to these estimates were recorded on a prospective basis.

Multiple Element Arrangements after the adoption of ASU 2009-13. ASU 2009-13 amended the accounting standards for certain multiple element revenue arrangements to:

 

   

provide updated guidance on whether multiple elements exist, how the elements in an arrangement should be separated, and how the arrangement consideration should be allocated to the separate elements;

 

   

require an entity to allocate arrangement consideration to each element based on a selling price hierarchy, also called the relative selling price method, where the selling price for an element is based on vendor-specific objective evidence ("VSOE"), if available; third-party evidence ("TPE"), if available and VSOE is not available; or the best estimate of selling price ("ESP"), if neither VSOE nor TPE is available; and

 

   

eliminate the use of the residual method and require an entity to allocate arrangement consideration using the selling price hierarchy.

Since adoption of ASU 2009-13, the Company has not entered into new agreements and recognized revenues under this standard as of December 31, 2011. For future revenue agreements with multiple element arrangements, such as license and development agreements, the Company will allocate revenue to each non-contingent element based on the relative selling price of each element. When applying the relative selling price method, the Company determines the selling price for each deliverable using VSOE of selling price or TPE of selling price. If neither exists the Company uses ESP for that deliverable. Revenue allocated is then recognized when the basic four revenue recognition criteria are met for each element.

Additionally, the Company recognizes milestone payments, which are subject to substantive contingencies, upon completion of specified milestones, which represents the culmination of an earnings process, according to contract terms. Fees from licensees upon sublicensing Sangamo technologies by them to third parties (sublicense fees) are recognized as revenue in the period such fees are due. Minimum annual sublicense fees are also recognized as revenue in the period in which such fees are due. Royalties are generally recognized as revenue upon the receipt of the related royalty payment. The Company recognizes cost reimbursement revenue under collaborative agreements as the related research and development costs for services are rendered. Deferred revenue represents the portion of research or license payments received which have not been earned.

Sangamo's research grants are typically multi-year agreements and provide for the reimbursement of qualified expenses for research and development as defined under the terms of the grant agreement. Revenue under grant agreements is recognized when the related qualified research expenses are incurred.

During 2011, revenues related to Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (Sigma), Dow AgroSciences LLC (DAS), California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and CHDI Foundation, Inc. (CHDI) represented 15%, 43%, 18% and 11% of total revenues, respectively. During 2010, revenues related to Sigma and DAS represented 59% and 21%, respectively, of total revenues. During 2009, revenues related to Sigma and DAS represented 50% and 40%, respectively, of total revenues.

 

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist of direct and research-related allocated overhead costs such as facilities costs, salaries and related personnel costs, and material and supply costs. In addition, research and development expenses include costs related to clinical trials, validation of our testing processes and procedures and as well as related overhead expenses. Research and development costs incurred in connection with collaborator-funded activities are expensed as incurred. Costs to acquire technologies that are utilized in research and development that have no alternative future use are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to Sangamo employees and directors, including employee share options, restricted stuck units (RSUs) and employee share purchases related to the Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP), based on estimated fair values at grant date. The fair value of equity-based awards is amortized over the vesting period of the award using a straight-line method.

To estimate the value of an award, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model requires inputs such as expected life, expected volatility and risk-free interest rate. These inputs are subjective and generally require significant analysis and judgment to develop. While estimates of expected life and volatility are derived primarily from the Company's historical data, the risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant commensurate with the expected life assumption. Further, the Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense has been provided using the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities as measured by the enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences reverse. The Company provides a valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is not more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share has been computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potential dilutive securities outstanding during the period.

Because Sangamo is in a net loss position, diluted net loss per share excludes the effects of common stock equivalents consisting of options, which are all anti-dilutive. The total stock options outstanding excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share at the end of 2011, 2010 and 2009 were 8,346,190, 8,109,901 and 7,469,501, respectively.

Segments

The Company operates in one segment. Management uses one measurement of profitability and does not segregate its business for internal reporting. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, all of the Company's assets were maintained in the U.S. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, 100% of revenues and operating expenses were generated and incurred in the U.S.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13. ASU 2009-13 updates 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. The second change modifies the manner in which the transaction consideration is allocated across the separately identifiable deliverables. The Company may be required to exercise considerable judgment in determining the estimated selling price of delivered items under new agreements. The Company adopted this guidance prospectively beginning January 1, 2011. There was no effect on 2011 financial statements as the Company did not enter into or materially amend any such agreements. However, the Company expects that this adoption could have a material impact on its financial statements going forward, including on the accounting for the collaboration agreement with Shire AG (Shire).