Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of consolidation

Principles of consolidation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts and the accounts of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Agios Securities Corporation and Agios International Sarl. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

Use of estimates

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue recognition

Revenue recognition

The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605, Revenue Recognition. Accordingly, revenue is recognized for each unit of accounting when all of the following criteria are met:

• persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;

• delivery has occurred or services have been rendered;

• the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and

• collectability is reasonably assured.

The Company’s revenue has primarily been generated from the 2010 Agreement and the AG-881 Agreements.

Collaboration and license revenue

In January 2011, the Company adopted the FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-13, Multiple-Element Revenue Arrangements (“ASU No. 2009-13”), which was codified within ASC 605-25, on a prospective basis for all revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified after the adoption date. The 2010 Agreement was entered into prior to January 1, 2011 and the Company initially applied its prior accounting policy with respect to the arrangement. Under this policy, when evaluating multiple element arrangements, the Company considered whether the components of the arrangement should be accounted for individually as separate units of accounting if (1) the elements have stand-alone value, and (2) the Company is able to estimate the fair value of all undelivered elements under the arrangement.

In July 2014, the Company amended its collaboration agreement with Celgene. The amendment was determined to be a material modification pursuant to ASU No. 2009-13. As a result of the amendment, the Company was required to reevaluate the agreement under ASC 605-25, and began recognizing revenue for the arrangement under this guidance on a prospective basis, as discussed further in Note 3. As required, all new contracts or modifications to existing contracts, including the AG-881 Agreements entered into in April 2015 and discussed further in Note 3, will be accounted for under ASC 605-25.

Pursuant to ASC 605-25, revenue arrangements where multiple products or services are sold together are evaluated to determine if each deliverable represents a separate unit of accounting based on the following criteria:

• delivered item or items have value to the customer on a standalone basis, and

• if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item or items, delivery or performance of the undelivered item or items is considered probable and substantially in the control of the vendor.

The arrangement consideration is then allocated to each separately identified unit of accounting based on the relative selling price, using the Company’s best estimate of selling price of each deliverable if vendor specific objective evidence or third party evidence is not available. The provisions of ASC 605-25, Multiple-Element Arrangements are then applied to each unit of accounting to determine the appropriate revenue recognition. In the event that a deliverable of a multiple element arrangement does not represent a separate unit of accounting, the Company recognizes revenue from the combined units of accounting over the term of the related contract or as undelivered items are delivered, as appropriate.

Revenue is recognized under the proportional performance method for certain units of accounting. The amount recognized is determined based on the consideration allocated to each unit of accounting based on the ratio of the level of effort incurred to date compared to the total estimated level of effort required to complete the Company’s performance obligations under the unit of accounting. Determining the total estimated level of effort required to complete all performance obligations requires management judgment and estimation, including assumptions regarding future operating performance, the timelines of the clinical trial approvals and the estimated patient populations.

Reimbursement of research and development costs by Celgene is recognized as revenue, provided the Company has determined that it is acting primarily as a principal in the transaction according to the provisions outlined in FASB ASC 605-45, Revenue Recognition – Principal Agent Considerations, the amounts are determinable and collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured.

In determining the current and noncurrent classification of deferred revenue, the Company considers the total consideration expected to be earned in the next twelve months for services to be performed under certain units of accounting and the estimated proportional performance and timing of delivery of certain deliverables to determine the deferred revenue balance that will remain twelve months from the balance sheet date.

Milestone revenue

The Company applies the provisions of FASB’s ASU No. 2010-17, Revenue Recognition – Milestone Method pursuant to which management may recognize revenue contingent upon the achievement of a milestone in its entirety in the period in which the milestone is achieved, only if the milestone meets all the criteria within the guidance to be considered substantive. In accordance with ASU 2010-17, at the inception of each arrangement that includes milestone payments, the Company evaluates each contingent payment on an individual basis to determine whether they are considered substantive milestones, specifically reviewing factors such as the degree of certainty in achieving the milestone, the research and development risk and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the milestone, as well as the level of effort and investment required and whether the milestone consideration is reasonable relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement. This evaluation includes an assessment of whether (a) the consideration is commensurate with either (1) the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone, or (2) the enhancement of the value of the delivered item(s) as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone, (b) the consideration relates solely to past performance and (c) the consideration is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement.

Revenue from milestones, if they are nonrefundable and deemed substantive, are recognized upon achievement of the milestones. The Company recognizes revenue associated with the non-substantive milestones upon achievement of the milestone if there are no undelivered elements and the Company has no remaining performance obligations.

Research and development costs

Research and development costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs include salaries and personnel-related costs, consulting fees, fees paid for contract research services, fees paid to clinical research organizations and other third parties associated with clinical trials, the costs of laboratory equipment and facilities, and other external costs.

Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.

Stock-based compensation

Stock-based compensation

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. ASC 718 requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations based on their grant date fair values. For stock options granted to employees and to members of the board of directors for their services on the board of directors, the Company estimates the grant date fair value of each option award using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The use of the Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the common stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the common stock. For awards subject to service-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, equal to the grant date fair value of stock options on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For awards subject to both performance and service-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense using an accelerated recognition method if achievement of the performance criteria is considered probable.

Share-based payments issued to non-employees are recorded at their fair values, and are revalued at each reporting date and as the equity instruments vest and are recognized as expense over the related service period in accordance with the provisions of ASC 505, Equity. For equity instruments granted to non-employees, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense using an accelerated recognition method.

Income taxes

Income taxes

Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. The Company determines its deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, which are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit will more likely than not be realized. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances. The Company evaluated whether any uncertain tax positions arise from commencing operations of its wholly owned subsidiary, Agios International Sarl, and determined no uncertain tax positions existed. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not have any uncertain tax positions.

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions, and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, and currently consists of net loss and changes in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities. Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists entirely of unrealized gains and losses from available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents, which consist primarily of money market funds, are stated at fair value.

Marketable securities

Marketable securities

Marketable securities at December 31, 2015 and 2014 consisted primarily of investments in United States Treasuries and certificates of deposit. Management determines the appropriate classification of the securities at the time they are acquired and evaluates the appropriateness of such classifications at each balance sheet date. The Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale pursuant to ASC 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities. Marketable securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity and a component of total comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss, until realized. Realized gains and losses are included in investment income on a specific-identification basis. There were immaterial realized gains on marketable securities for the year ended December 31, 2015. There were no realized gains or losses on marketable securities for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

The Company reviews marketable securities for other-than-temporary impairment whenever the fair value of a marketable security is less than the amortized cost and evidence indicates that a marketable security’s carrying amount is not recoverable within a reasonable period of time. Other-than-temporary impairments of investments are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations if the Company has experienced a credit loss, has the intent to sell the marketable security, or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the marketable security before recovery of the amortized cost basis. Evidence considered in this assessment includes reasons for the impairment, compliance with the Company’s investment policy, the severity and the duration of the impairment and changes in value subsequent to the end of the period.

Marketable securities at December 31, 2015 consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
Current:
Certificates of deposit	$	11,248	$	—	$	(5	)	$	11,243
U.S. Treasuries		234,130		10		(145	)		233,995
Non-current:
U.S. Treasuries		59,083		—		(178	)		58,905
	$	304,461	$	10	$	(328)		$	304,143

Marketable securities at December 31, 2014 consisted of the following (in thousands):

	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
Current:
Certificates of deposit	$	13,160	$	—	$	(5	)	$	13,155
U.S. Treasuries		314,866		45		(32	)		314,879
Non-current:
U.S. Treasuries		125,447		5		(70	)		125,382
	$	453,473	$	50	$	(107)		$	453,416

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company held both current and non-current investments. Investments classified as current have maturities of less than one year. Investments classified as non-current are those that (i) have maturities of one to two years and (ii) management does not intend to liquidate within the next twelve months, although these funds are available for use and therefore classified as available-for-sale.

At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company held 74 and 92 debt securities, respectively, that were in an unrealized loss position. The aggregate fair value of debt securities in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $207.4 million and $236.9 million, respectively. There were no individual securities that were in a significant unrealized loss position or that had been in an unrealized loss position for greater than one year as of December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company evaluated its securities for other-than-temporary impairment and considered the decline in market value for the securities to be primarily attributable to current economic and market conditions. It is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the securities and the Company does not intend to do so prior to the recovery of the amortized cost basis. Based on this analysis, these marketable securities were not considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Concentrations of credit risk

Concentrations of credit risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company holds these investments in highly rated financial institutions, and, by policy, limits the amounts of credit exposure to any one financial institution. These amounts at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any credit losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on these funds. The Company has no off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk, such as foreign currency exchange contracts, option contracts or other hedging arrangements.

The Company is also subject to credit risk from its collaboration receivable. The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of its collaborator and has determined it is credit worthy. To date the Company has not experienced any losses with respect to its collaboration receivable.

Fair value measurements

Fair value measurements

The Company records cash equivalents and marketable securities at fair value. ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a fair value hierarchy for those instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The following table summarizes the cash equivalents and marketable securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Cash equivalents	$	59,332	$	—	$	—	$	59,332
Marketable securities:
Certificates of deposit		—		11,243		—		11,243
U.S. Treasuries		292,900		—		—		292,900
	$	352,232	$	11,243	$	—	$	363,475

The following table summarizes the cash equivalents and marketable securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Cash equivalents	$	11,410	$	960	$	—	$	12,370
Marketable securities:
Certificates of deposit		—		13,155		—		13,155
U.S. Treasuries		440,261		—		—		440,261
	$	451,671	$	14,115	$	—	$	465,786

Cash equivalents and marketable securities have been initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued, at the end of each reporting period, utilizing third-party pricing services or other market observable data. The pricing services utilize industry standard valuation models, including both income and market based approaches and observable market inputs to determine value. After completing its validation procedures, the Company did not adjust or override any fair value measurements provided by the pricing services as of December 31, 2015 or 2014.

The carrying amounts reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, collaboration receivable – related party, tenant improvement and other receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, other assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate their fair values at December 31, 2015 and 2014, due to their short-term nature.

There have been no changes to the valuation methods during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company evaluates transfers between levels at the end of each reporting period. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company had no financial assets or liabilities that were classified as Level 3 at any point during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Collaboration and other receivables

Collaboration and other receivables

Collaboration receivables as of December 31, 2015 represent amounts due from Celgene for cost reimbursements of certain on-going clinical studies under the collaboration agreements with Celgene. Other receivables represent amounts due from the Company’s landlord for reimbursement of tenant improvements under the Company’s lease agreement.

The Company estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts based on credit worthiness, historical payment patterns, aging of accounts receivable balances, and general economic conditions. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had no allowance for doubtful accounts.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment

Property and equipment consist of laboratory equipment, computer equipment and software, leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures, and office equipment. Property and equipment is stated at cost, and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets:

Laboratory equipment	5 years
Computer equipment and software	3 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of asset’s useful life or remaining term of lease
Furniture and fixtures	5 years
Office equipment	5 years

Costs of major additions and betterments are capitalized; maintenance and repairs, which do not improve or extend the life of the respective assets, are charged to expense as incurred. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of the disposed asset and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is recognized.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets for potential impairment in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. Potential impairment is assessed when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recovered. Recoverability of these assets is assessed based on undiscounted expected future cash flows from the assets, considering a number of factors, including past operating results, budgets and economic projections, market trends and product development cycles. If impairments are identified, assets are written down to their estimated fair value. The Company has not recognized any impairment charges through December 31, 2015.

Segment and geographic information

Segment and geographic information

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the chief executive officer. The Company and the chief decision maker view the Company’s operations and manage its business as one operating segment.

Net loss per share applicable to common stockholders

Net loss per share applicable to common stockholders

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by adjusting weighted-average shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period, determined using the treasury-stock method. For purposes of the dilutive net loss per share calculation, stock options, including performance-based stock options which were determined to be probable of achievement, restricted stock units, unvested restricted stock and employee stock purchase plan shares are considered to be common stock equivalents but are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

The following common stock equivalents were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders for the periods indicated because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:

	Years ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013
Stock options		4,618,697		3,795,420		3,846,168
Restricted stock units		15,000		10,000		—
Unvested restricted stock		—		8,522		23,295
Employee stock purchase plan shares		7,721		7,159		—
		4,641,418		3,821,101		3,869,463

Recent accounting pronouncements

Recent accounting pronouncements

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”), which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes. ASU 2015-17 requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. ASU 2015-17 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 (and interim periods within those fiscal years) with early adoption permitted. ASU 2015-17 may be either applied prospectively to all deferred tax assets and liabilities or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company elected to early adopt ASU 2015-17 prospectively in the fourth quarter of 2015. As a result, all deferred tax assets and liabilities will be presented as noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheet. There was no impact on our results of operations as a result of the adoption of ASU 2015-17.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40). The ASU requires all entities to evaluate for the existence of conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the issuance date of the financial statements. The accounting standard is effective for interim and annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements, but may impact the Company’s footnote disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The ASU provides for a single comprehensive model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The accounting standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with no early adoption permitted. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, along with an option to permit early adoption as of the original effective date. The Company is required to adopt the amendments in the ASU using one of two acceptable methods. The Company is currently in the process of determining which adoption method it will apply and evaluating the impact of the guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Other accounting standards that have been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements upon adoption.

Subsequent events

Subsequent events

The Company considered events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of the consolidated financial statements are available to be issued for potential recognition or disclosure in its consolidated financial statements. All significant subsequent events have been properly disclosed in the consolidated financial statements.