Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of accounting policy

Basis of presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2017 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and the related information contained within the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2017 and its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. The financial data and the other financial information disclosed in these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements related to the three and six-month periods are also unaudited. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017 or for any other future annual or interim period. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 24, 2017 (the "2016 Form 10-K").

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, Viventia Bio Inc. ("Viventia"), and its indirect subsidiaries, Viventia Bio USA Inc. and Viventia Biotech (EU) Limited. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The functional currency of Viventia Bio Inc., Viventia Bio USA Inc. and Viventia Biotech (EU) Limited is the U.S. dollar. Consolidated balance sheet accounts of the Company’s subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date while expenses are translated using the average exchange rate in effect during the period. Gains and losses arising from translation of the wholly owned subsidiaries’ financial statements are included in the determination of net income (loss).

Recently adopted accounting standards and Recently issued accounting standards

Recently adopted accounting standards

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 requires companies to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent on the balance sheet instead of separating deferred taxes into current and noncurrent amounts. The Company adopted, prospectively, ASU 2015-07 as of January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-17 did not have an impact on the Company’s financial statements as the deferred tax liability was classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2016.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 as of January 1, 2017 and elected an accounting policy to record forfeitures as they occur. The impact of this change in accounting policy has been recorded as a $9,000 cumulative effect adjustment to accumulated deficit, as of January 1, 2017. ASU 2016-09 also provides that companies no longer record excess tax benefits or certain tax deficiencies in additional paid-in capital. Instead, all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies are recorded as income tax expense or benefit in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss. There was no financial statement impact of adopting this provision of ASU 2016-09 as the Company is currently in a net operating loss position and the excess tax benefits that existed from options previously exercised had a full valuation allowance. The effects of adopting the remaining provisions in ASU 2016-09 affecting the classification of awards as either equity or liabilities when an entity partially settles the award in cash in excess of the employer’s minimum statutory withholding requirements and classification in the statement of cash flows did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Recently issued accounting standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, codified as Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"), which supersedes all existing revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the company expects to receive for those goods or services. The new standard will be effective on January 1, 2018 and earlier application is permitted only for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. ASC 606 allows for either a full retrospective adoption, in which the standard is applied to all of the periods presented, or a modified retrospective application, in which the standard is applied to the most current period presented in the financial statements. The Company expects to adopt this standard using the modified retrospective approach. All of the revenue generated in the six months ended June 30, 2017 is from the Company’s license arrangement with Roche. It is expected that the evaluation of variable consideration, and in particular, milestone payments due from Roche will require further judgment to assess the timing of when to include them in the transaction price, which may result in earlier revenue recognition under ASC 606 compared to the current guidance. The Company is continuing to assess the potential impact that ASC 606 may have on its financial position and results of operations as it relates to this arrangement but based on its preliminary assessment does not expect the adoption of ASC 606 to have a material impact on its financial position and results of operations.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting ("ASU 2017-09"). This update clarifies the changes to terms or conditions of a share-based payment award that require an entity to apply modification accounting. ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early application is permitted and prospective application is required. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this guidance will have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

There have been no other material changes to the significant accounting policies and recent accounting pronouncements previously disclosed in the 2016 Form 10-K.