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Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Vical Incorporated, or the Company, a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in April 1987 and has devoted substantially all of its resources since that time to its research and development programs. The Company researches and develops biopharmaceutical products, including those based on its patented DNA delivery technologies for the prevention and treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases.

All of the Company’s potential products are in research and development phases. No revenues have been generated from the sale of any such products, nor are any such revenues expected for at least the next several years. The Company earns revenue from research and development agreements with pharmaceutical collaborators and from contract manufacturing agreements. Most of the Company’s product candidates will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing. All product candidates that advance to clinical testing will require regulatory approval prior to commercial use, and will require significant costs for commercialization. There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development efforts, or those of its collaborators, will be successful. The Company expects to continue to incur substantial losses and not generate positive cash flows from operations for at least the next several years. No assurance can be given that the Company can generate sufficient product revenue to become profitable or generate positive cash flows from operations.

Basis of Presentation

These financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

On May 25, 2016, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation to effect a one-for-ten (1:10) reverse stock split. This reverse stock split became effective as of the close of business on May 26, 2016. The reverse stock split had no effect on the par value of its common stock and did not reduce the number of authorized shares of common stock but reduced the number of outstanding shares of common stock by the one-for-ten ratio. Accordingly, the outstanding shares, stock award disclosures, net loss per share, and other per share disclosures for all periods presented have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the impact of this reverse stock split.

The reverse stock split resulted in a proportionate adjustment to the per share exercise price and the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units, or RSUs, and the number of shares of common stock eligible for issuance under the Company’s stock incentive plan. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Each stockholder’s percentage ownership and proportional voting power generally remained unchanged as a result of the reverse stock split.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make informed estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid securities with original maturities at the date of acquisition of ninety days or less and can be liquidated without prior notice or penalty. Investments with an original maturity of more than ninety days are considered marketable securities and have been classified by management as available-for-sale. These investments are classified as current assets, even though the stated maturity date may be one year or more beyond the current balance sheet date which reflects management’s intention to use the proceeds from sales of these securities to fund its operations, as necessary. Such investments are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities or the amounts, net of tax, reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), if any, are determined on a specific identification basis.

Restricted Cash

The Company was required to maintain a letter of credit securing an amount equal to twelve months of the then current monthly installment of base rent for the original term of the lease for its facilities, which ended on August 31, 2017. In July 2016, the term of the lease was extended for 16 months through December 2018. During the extended term, the Company is required to maintain a letter of credit securing an amount equal to $0.2 million. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, restricted cash of $0.2 million and $3.3 million, respectively, was pledged as collateral for the letter of credit.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, marketable securities and receivables. The Company invests its excess cash in debt instruments of financial institutions and of corporations with above average credit ratings, in U.S. government obligations, and in money market funds and certificates of deposits at financial institutions.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Assets acquired pursuant to capital lease arrangements and leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the life of the remaining lease term or the remaining useful life of the asset. Manufacturing equipment has estimated useful lives of 5 to 10 years. All other property and equipment have estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years. Maintenance and repairs of property and equipment are expensed as incurred.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets include certain costs related to patent applications. The Company capitalizes license fees paid to acquire access to proprietary technology if the technology is expected to have alternative future use in multiple research and development projects. The cost of licensed technology rights is amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the technology. Certain costs related to patent applications are amortized over the estimated economic lives of the patents, which is generally 20 years and typically commences at the time the patent application is filed. As of December 31, 2017, the weighted average amortization period of capitalized patent costs is approximately 8 years. Amortization expense for licensed technology and capitalized patent cost is included in research and development expenses.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment at least annually, quarterly for intangible assets, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Should an impairment exist, the impairment loss would be measured based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over the asset’s estimated fair value and the loss recognized in current earnings. The Company recognized research and development expense of approximately $0.0 million, $0.4 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to patents for which the value was deemed to be impaired.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when the four basic criteria of revenue recognition are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services rendered; (3) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. Certain of the Company’s revenue is generated through manufacturing contracts and stand-alone license agreements.

Contract Manufacturing Revenue

Revenue associated with contract manufacturing services is recognized once the service has been rendered and/or upon shipment (or passage of title) of the product to the customer. On occasion, the Company recognizes revenue on a “bill-and-hold” basis. Revenue is recognized for such “bill-and-hold” arrangements in accordance with the authoritative guidance, which requires, among other things, the existence of a valid business purpose for the arrangement, that the “bill-and-hold” arrangement is at the request of the customer, that title and risk of ownership pass to the customer, that the product is complete and ready for shipment, a fixed delivery date that is reasonable and consistent with the customer’s business practices, that the product has been separated from the Company’s inventory, and that no further performance obligations by the Company exist.

Multiple-element arrangements

The Company has entered into multiple-element arrangements. In order to account for the multiple-element arrangements, the Company identifies the deliverables included within the agreement and evaluates which deliverables represent separate units of accounting. Analyzing the arrangement to identify deliverables requires the use of judgment, and each deliverable may be an obligation to deliver services, a right or license to use an asset, or another performance obligation. The delivered item(s) must have value to the customer on a standalone basis and, if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item, delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) is considered probable and substantially in the Company’s control.

A delivered item is considered a separate unit of accounting when the delivered item has value to the partner on a standalone basis based on the consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances for each arrangement. Factors considered in this determination include the research capabilities of the partner and the availability of research expertise in this field in the general marketplace. Arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the agreement to all identified units of accounting based on their relative selling price. The relative selling price for each deliverable is determined using vendor specific objective evidence, or VSOE, of selling price or third-party evidence of selling price if VSOE does not exist. If neither VSOE nor third-party evidence of selling price exists, the Company uses its best estimate of the selling price for the deliverable. The amount of allocable arrangement consideration is limited to amounts that are fixed or determinable. The consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are applied to each of the separate units. Changes in the allocation of the sales price between delivered and undelivered elements can impact revenue recognition but do not change the total revenue recognized under any agreement. If facts and circumstances dictate that the license has standalone value from the undelivered items, which generally include research and development services and the manufacture of drug products, the license is identified as a separate unit of accounting and the amounts allocated to the license are recognized upon the delivery of the license, assuming the other revenue recognition criteria have been met. However, if the amounts allocated to the license through the relative selling price allocation exceed the upfront license fee, the amount recognized upon the delivery of the license is limited to the upfront fee received. If facts and circumstances dictate that the license does not have standalone value, the transaction price, including any upfront license fee payments received, are allocated to the identified separate units of accounting and recognized as those items are delivered.

The terms of the Company’s partnership agreements provide for milestone payments upon achievement of certain regulatory and commercial events. Under the Milestone Method, the Company recognizes consideration that is contingent upon the achievement of a milestone in its entirety as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved only if the milestone is substantive in its entirety. A milestone is considered substantive when it meets all of the following three criteria: 1) The consideration is commensurate with either the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone or 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, 2) The consideration relates solely to past performance, and 3) The consideration is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement. A milestone is defined as an event (i) that can only be achieved based in whole or in part on either the entity’s performance or on the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting from the entity’s performance, (ii) for which there is substantive uncertainty at the date the arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved and (iii) that would result in additional payments being due to the Company.

Contract Services, Grant and Royalty Revenue

The Company recognizes revenues from contract services and federal government research grants during the period in which the related expenditures are incurred and related payments for those services are received or collection is reasonably assured. Royalties to be received based on sales of licensed products by the Company’s partners incorporating the Company’s licensed technology are recognized when received.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs include salaries and personnel-related costs, supplies and materials, outside services, costs of conducting preclinical and clinical trials, facilities costs and amortization of intangible assets. The Company accounts for its clinical trial costs by estimating the total cost to treat a patient in each clinical trial, and accruing this total cost for the patient over the estimated treatment period, which corresponds with the period over which the services are performed, beginning when the patient enrolls in the clinical trial. This estimated cost includes payments to the site conducting the trial, and patient-related lab and other costs related to the conduct of the trial. Cost per patient varies based on the type of clinical trial, the site of the clinical trial, the method of administration of the treatment, and the number of treatments that a patient receives. Treatment periods vary depending on the clinical trial. The Company makes revisions to the clinical trial cost estimates in the current period, as clinical trials progress.

Manufacturing and Production Costs

Manufacturing and production costs include expenses related to manufacturing contracts and expenses for the production of plasmid DNA for use in the Company’s research and development efforts. Manufacturing expenses related to manufacturing contracts are deferred and expensed when the related revenue is recognized. Deferred contract costs at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $10.5 million and $5.5 million, respectively. Production expenses related to the Company’s research and development efforts are expensed as incurred.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share has been computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The weighted-average number of shares used to compute diluted loss per share excludes any assumed exercise of stock options, and the assumed issuance of common stock under RSUs, as the effect would be antidilutive. Common stock equivalents of 1.8 million, 7,350 and 33,720 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the calculation because of their antidilutive effect.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, marketable securities, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2017 and 2016, are considered to approximate fair value because of the short term nature of those items.

Income Taxes

The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. There were no unrecognized tax benefits recorded by the Company as of the date of adoption in 2007. There are no unrecognized tax benefits included in the balance sheets that would, if recognized, affect the effective tax rate.

Deferred income taxes result primarily from temporary differences between financial and tax reporting. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement bases and the tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is established to reduce a deferred tax asset to the amount that is expected more likely than not to be realized.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“the Act”) was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Act reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. At December 31, 2017, the Company had not completed its accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Act; however, in certain cases, the Company has made a reasonable estimate of the effects on its existing deferred tax balances. In other cases, the Company has not been able to make a reasonable estimate and will continue to make and refine calculations as additional analysis is completed. In addition, estimates may also be affected as the Company gains a more thorough understanding of the Act.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss consists of net loss and certain changes in equity that are excluded from net loss. Comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, has been reflected in the accompanying Statements of Comprehensive Loss. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is included in stockholders’ equity, represents unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities.

Business Segments

The Company operates in one business segment, which is within the United States, and is dedicated to research and development of DNA delivery technology.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records its compensation expense associated with stock options and other forms of equity compensation based on their fair value at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. Stock-based compensation expense includes amortization related to stock option awards based on the estimated grant date fair value. The compensation expense related to stock options is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the options. In addition, the Company records expense related to RSUs granted based on the fair value of those awards on the grant date. The fair value related to the RSUs is amortized to expense over the vesting term of those awards. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options and RSUs for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 includes an estimate of 8.75% for forfeitures. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” which allowed the Company to change its methodology for recording forfeitures from estimated forfeitures to actual forfeitures and recorded an adjustment to beginning retained earnings of $0.1 million.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model using the assumptions noted in the following table. The expected life of options is based on the Company’s observed historical exercise patterns. The expected volatility of stock options is based upon the historical volatility of the Company’s stock commensurate with the expected life of the option. The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield on a U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issue with a remaining term equal to the expected term of the option. The dividend yield reflects that the Company has not paid any cash dividends since inception and does not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Assumptions:
Assumed risk-free interest rate	1.86%		1.44%		1.34%
Assumed volatility	72%		72%		68%
Average expected option life	4.5 years		4.5 years		4.5 years
Expected dividend yield		—		—		—

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The guidance outlines a five-step process for revenue recognition that focuses on transfer of control, as opposed to transfer of risk and rewards, and also requires enhanced disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows from contracts with customers. Major provisions include determining which goods and services are distinct and require separate accounting (performance obligations), how variable consideration (which may include change orders and claims) is recognized, whether revenue should be recognized at a point in time or over time and ensuring the time value of money is considered in the transaction price. The guidance allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption and will become effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2018.

The Company has adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method which will result in a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. As it relates to process validation lots and stock piling lots completed but not delivered as of December 31, 2017 at the request of a customer, in applying the modified retrospective method, the Company concluded that the criteria for transfer of control were met prior to January 1, 2018 and as a result, the Company expects to record an adjustment as of January 1, 2018 to recognize previously deferred revenue of $11.4 million and previously deferred contract costs of $10.5 million, with an offset to increase January 1, 2018 beginning retained earnings by $0.9 million.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” The new standard requires a lessee to record on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases with lease terms of more than 12 months and will require both lessees and lessors to disclose certain key information about lease transactions. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is evaluating the effect that the adoption of the new guidance will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” The amended guidance simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions. The amended guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard in the first quarter of 2017 allowed the Company to change its methodology for recording forfeitures from estimated forfeitures to actual forfeitures and the Company recorded an adjustment to beginning retained earnings of $0.1 million in January 2017.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash” that changes the presentation of restricted cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. This new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this standard in the third quarter of 2017 on a retrospective basis and has presented the cash flow statement in accordance with the new guidance. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures.