Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates in the Company’s consolidated financial statements relate to accrued research and development expenses, the valuation of stock options and the valuation allowance of deferred tax assets resulting from net operating losses. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segments

Segments

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 in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost, which approximate their fair value.

Marketable Securities

Marketable Securities

The Company considers securities with original maturities of greater than 90 days to be marketable securities. The Company has the ability, if necessary, to liquidate any of its cash equivalents and marketable securities to meet its liquidity needs in the next 12 months. Accordingly, those investments with contractual maturities greater than one year from the date of purchase are classified as current assets on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s marketable securities consist of U.S. Treasury and agency securities, commercial paper, and corporate debt securities. Marketable securities are recorded at fair value and unrealized gains and losses are recorded within accumulated other comprehensive loss. The estimated fair value of the marketable securities is determined based on quoted market prices or rates for similar instruments. The Company evaluates securities with unrealized losses to determine whether such losses, if any, are other than temporary. Realized gains and losses are calculated using the specific identification method and recorded as interest income or expense. The Company does not generally intend to sell the investments and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be at maturity. The Company has determined that there were no other than temporary declines in fair values of its investments as of December 31, 2019.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash

The Company had no restricted cash as of December 31, 2019.  Restricted cash as of December 31, 2018 served as collateral for the Company’s corporate credit card program.

Concentrations of Credit Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk

Concentrations of Credit Risk and Off-Balance Sheet Risk

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are financial instruments that are potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are deposited in accounts at large financial institutions, and amounts may exceed federally insured limits. The Company believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial strength of the depository institutions in which the cash and cash equivalents are held. The Company maintains its cash equivalents in U.S. Treasury and agency securities and commercial paper with maturities less than three months and in money market funds that invest in U.S. Treasury and agency securities.

The Company’s available for sale securities are also invested in U.S. Treasury and agency securities. The Company has not recognized any losses from credit risks on such accounts during any of the periods presented. The Company believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk on its cash, cash equivalents and available for sale securities.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net, which consists mainly of office equipment and leasehold improvements, are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, generally three to seven years, using the straight-line method.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred Offering Costs

The Company capitalizes certain legal and other third-party fees that are directly associated with in process equity financings as deferred offering costs until such financings are consummated. After consummation of the equity financing, these costs are recorded as a reduction of the proceeds generated as a result of the offering. There were no deferred offering costs as of December 31, 2019. Deferred offering costs amounted to $2.1 million as of December 31, 2018 and was recorded as a component of other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Leases

Leases

In accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as adopted on January 1, 2019, the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities at the present value of the lease payments calculated using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate, unless the implicit rate is readily available. The Company records rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Research and Development

Research and Development

All research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs consist primarily of salaries, employee benefits, costs associated with preclinical studies and clinical trials (including amounts paid to clinical research organizations and other professional services), in process research and development expenses and license agreement expenses. Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in research and development are capitalized until the goods or services are received.

The Company records accruals for estimated research and development costs, comprising payments for work performed by third party contractors, laboratories, participating clinical trial sites, and others. Some of these contractor’s bill monthly based on actual services performed, while others bill periodically based upon achieving certain contractual milestones. For the latter, the Company accrues the expenses as goods or services are used or rendered. Clinical trial site costs related to patient enrollment are accrued as patients enter and progress through the trial. Upfront costs, such as costs associated with setting up clinical trial sites for participation in the trials, are expensed immediately once incurred as research and development expenses.

Patent Costs

Patent Costs

Costs related to filing and pursuing patent applications are expensed as incurred, as recoverability of such expenditures is uncertain. These costs are included in general and administrative expenses.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Income taxes are recorded in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), 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. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which 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 would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the taxing authority. 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.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the future tax consequences of the differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using current enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances are recorded when the realizability of such deferred tax assets does not meet a more-likely-than-not threshold. For tax benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and California, Ireland and Luxembourg. As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s tax years since inception are subject to examination by taxing authorities due to the Company’s unutilized NOLs and tax credits.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company expenses stock-based compensation to employees and non-employees over the requisite service period based on the estimated grant-date fair value of the awards. The Company records the expense for stock-based compensation awards subject to performance-based milestone vesting over the remaining service period when management determines that achievement of the milestone is probable. Management evaluates when the achievement of a performance-based milestone is probable based on the expected satisfaction of the performance conditions at each reporting date. The Company estimates the fair value of stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and the assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. All share-based compensation costs are recorded in the statements of operations based upon the underlying employees or non-employee’s roles within the Company.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency

Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. subsidiaries that operate in a local currency environment, where that local currency is the functional currency, are translated to U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense accounts are translated at average exchange rates during the year which approximate the rates in effect at the transaction dates. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).  Foreign exchange transaction gains and losses are included in other income (expense) in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements—To Be Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade receivables and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking expected loss model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, the losses will be recognized as allowances rather than as reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company has evaluated ASU 2016-13 and determined that the adoption of the new standard will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements or related financial statement disclosures.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASC 842”), as of January 1, 2019, using the optional transition method. The optional transition method provides a method for recording existing leases at adoption and a cumulative catch up adjustment on January 1, 2019 for any differences between ASC 842 and the legacy guidance provided in ASC 840, Leases that would have impacted our income statement. No retrospective restatements are required under the optional transition method. In addition, the Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which among other things, allowed us to carry forward the historical lease classification.The Company also applied the short-term lease recognition exemption for leases with terms at inception not greater than 12 months and elected to not separate lease and non-lease components for its long-term leases.

Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of additional operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities of approximately $12.5 million and $13.2 million, respectively, as of January 1, 2019. The difference between the operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are due to accrued deferred rent and unamortized lease incentives.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. It also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted in any annual or interim period for which financial statements have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company early adopted this standard as of October 1, 2019. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.

Net Loss Per Share

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share of common stock is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per share excludes the potential impact of Series Seed Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, common stock options and unvested shares of restricted stock because their effect would be anti-dilutive due to the Company’s net loss. Since the Company had a net loss in each of the periods presented, basic and diluted net loss per common share are the same.

The table below provides potentially dilutive securities not included in the calculation of the diluted net loss per share because to do so would be anti-dilutive:

	December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
Shares issuable upon conversion of Series Seed Convertible    Preferred Stock		—		4,444,444		—
Shares issuable upon conversion of Series A Convertible    Preferred Stock		—		10,158,710		—
Shares issuable upon conversion of Series B Convertible    Preferred Stock		—		15,890,306		—
Shares issuable upon exercise of stock options		8,538,060		5,107,329		—
Non-vested shares under restricted stock grants		4,648,526		7,482,032		1,305,421