pa
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission file number:
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
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(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of Each Exchange |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
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Smaller reporting company |
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Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
Number of shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding on August 4, 2023:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Part I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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5 |
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 |
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11 |
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
31 |
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
43 |
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43 |
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Part II – OTHER INFORMATION |
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44 |
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47 |
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49 |
2
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Industry Data
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or Quarterly Report, contains forward‑looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this Quarterly Report, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management and expected market growth are forward‑looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward‑looking statements, although not all forward‑looking statements contain these identifying words. In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. The forward‑looking statements and opinions contained in this Quarterly Report are based upon information available to us as of the date of this Quarterly Report and, while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information.
These forward‑looking statements include, among other things, statements about:
3
We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward‑looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward‑looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward‑looking statements we make. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward‑looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report.
We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this Quarterly Report that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. In particular, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our operations and those of the third parties on which we rely will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration and severity of the pandemic, additional or modified government actions, and the actions that may be required to contain the coronavirus or treat its impact. COVID-19 has and may continue to adversely impact our operations and workforce, including our supply chain and clinical trial operations activities, which in turn could have an adverse impact on our business and financial results.
Our forward‑looking statements also do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, collaborations, joint ventures or investments that we may make or enter into.
This report also includes statistical and other industry and market data that we obtained from industry publications and research, surveys, and studies conducted by third parties as well as our own estimates. All of the market data used in this report involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such data. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys, and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. Our estimates of the potential market opportunities for our drug candidates include several key assumptions based on our industry knowledge, industry publications, third-party research, and other surveys, which may be based on a small sample size and may fail to accurately reflect market opportunities. While we believe that our internal assumptions are reasonable, no independent source has verified such assumptions.
You should read this Quarterly Report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward‑looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
4
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)
SYROS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
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June 30, |
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December 31, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Assets |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
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$ |
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Marketable securities |
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Unbilled receivable |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total current assets |
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Property and equipment, net |
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Other long-term assets |
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Restricted cash |
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Right-of-use asset – operating lease |
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Right-of-use assets – financing leases |
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Total assets |
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$ |
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$ |
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Liabilities and stockholders' equity |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
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$ |
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$ |
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Accrued expenses |
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Deferred revenue, current portion |
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Financing lease obligations, current portion |
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Operating lease obligation, current portion |
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Total current liabilities |
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Operating lease obligation, net of current portion |
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Warrant liabilities |
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Debt, net of debt discount, long term |
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Stockholders' equity: |
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Preferred stock, $ |
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Common stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income |
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Accumulated deficit |
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( |
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( |
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Total stockholders' equity |
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Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
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$ |
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$ |
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See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
SYROS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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Six Months Ended |
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June 30, |
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June 30, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Revenue |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
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General and administrative |
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Total operating expenses |
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Loss from operations |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Interest income |
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Interest expense |
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( |
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( |
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( |
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( |
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Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
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( |
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Net loss applicable to common stockholders |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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Net loss per share applicable to common stockholders - basic and diluted |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
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Weighted-average number of common shares used in net loss per share applicable to common stockholders - basic and diluted |
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See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
SYROS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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Six Months Ended |
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June 30, |
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June 30, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Net loss |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
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Other comprehensive loss: |
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Unrealized holding loss on marketable securities, net of tax |
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( |
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( |
) |
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( |
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( |
) |
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Comprehensive loss |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
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See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
7
SYROS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
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Common Stock |
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Accumulated |
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Additional |
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Other |
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Number of |
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Par |
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Paid-In |
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Comprehensive |
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Accumulated |
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Stockholders’ |
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Shares |
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Value |
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Capital |
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Gain (Loss) |
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Deficit |
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Equity |
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Balance at March 31, 2022 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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Vesting of restricted stock units |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Issuance of shares under Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Other comprehensive loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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— |
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( |
) |
Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
Balance at June 30, 2022 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( | ) |
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$ |
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Balance at March 31, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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Vesting of restricted stock units and issuance of restricted stock awards |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Exercise of prefunded warrants |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Issuance of shares under Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Other comprehensive loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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— |
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( |
) |
Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
Balance at June 30, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( | ) |
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$ |
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8
SYROS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
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Common Stock |
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Accumulated |
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Additional |
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Other |
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Number of |
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Par |
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Paid-In |
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Comprehensive |
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Accumulated |
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Stockholders’ |
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Shares |
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Value |
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Capital |
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Income (Loss) |
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Deficit |
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Equity |
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Balance at December 31, 2021 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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Exercise of stock options |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Vesting of restricted stock units |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Issuance of shares under Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Other comprehensive loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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— |
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( |
) |
Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
Balance at June 30, 2022 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( | ) |
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$ |
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Balance at December 31, 2022 |
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( |
) |
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Vesting of restricted stock units |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Exercise of prefunded warrants |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Issuance of shares under Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Other comprehensive loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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— |
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( |
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Net loss |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
) |
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Balance at June 30, 2023 |
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( | ) |
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9
SYROS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
|
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Six Months Ended |
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June 30, |
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2023 |
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2022 |
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Operating activities |
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Net loss |
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$ |
( |
) |
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$ |
( |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Non-cash lease expense |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
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( |
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( |
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Net amortization of premiums and discounts on marketable securities |
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( |
) |
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Amortization of debt-discount and accretion of deferred debt costs |
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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( |
) |
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Unbilled receivable |
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( |
) |
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Other long-term assets |
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( |
) |
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Accounts payable |
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Accrued expenses |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Purchases of marketable securities |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Maturities of marketable securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net cash provided by investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Payments on financing lease obligations |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Proceeds from the issuance of shares through ESPP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Payment of issuance costs related to the merger and financing activities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (See reconciliation in Note 7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
End of period |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Property and equipment received but unpaid as of period end |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Offering costs incurred but unpaid as of period end |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
10
SYROS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. Nature of Business
Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation formed in November 2011, is a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing new standards of care for the frontline treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies.
The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to those of other early stage companies, including dependence on key individuals; risks inherent in the development and commercialization of medicines to treat human disease; competition from other companies, many of which are larger and better capitalized; risks relating to obtaining and maintaining necessary intellectual property protection; and the need to obtain adequate additional financing to fund the development of its product candidates. If the Company is unable to raise capital when needed or on favorable terms, it would be forced to delay, reduce, eliminate or out-license certain of its research and development programs or future commercialization rights to its product candidates.
The Company has incurred significant net operating losses in every year since its inception. It expects to continue to incur significant and increasing net operating losses for at least the next several years. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $
On September 16, 2022, the Company filed an amendment to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect
On September 16, 2022, the Company completed its acquisition of Tyme Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Tyme”), in accordance with an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 3, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”). The Company issued approximately
On September 16, 2022, the Company issued in a private placement (the “2022 Private Placement”)
On April 6, 2023, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, or the 2023 Registration Statement, with the SEC to register for sale from time to time up to $
Based on its current operating plan, the Company’s management believes that as of June 30, 2023, the Company will meet its liquidity requirements for a period of at least 12 months from the issuance date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
11
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative U.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2023, the results of its operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, statements of stockholders’ equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, and statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. Such adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. The results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2023, or for any future period.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, (i) Syros Securities Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation formed by the Company in December 2014 to exclusively engage in buying, selling and holding securities on its own behalf, (ii) Syros Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Limited, an Irish limited liability company formed by the Company in January 2019, and (iii) Tyme Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is the surviving corporation in connection with the filing of a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 16, 2022, pursuant to which Tack Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation formed by the Company in June 2022 to effect the Merger, merged with and into Tyme Technologies, Inc. (refer to Note 1). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Management considers many factors in selecting appropriate financial accounting policies and in developing the estimates and assumptions that are used in the preparation of the financial statements. Management must apply significant judgment in this process. In addition, other factors may affect estimates, which include, but are not limited to, expected business and operational changes, sensitivity and volatility associated with the assumptions used in developing estimates and whether historical trends are expected to be representative of future trends. Management’s estimation process may yield a range of potentially reasonable estimates and management must select an amount that falls within that range of reasonable estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company’s management evaluates its estimates, which include, but are not limited to, estimates related to revenue recognition, warrant liability, stock-based compensation expense, accrued expenses, income taxes and the evaluation of the existence of conditions and events that raise substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Actual results may differ from those estimates or assumptions.
Segment 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 its chief executive officer. The Company and the chief operating decision maker view the Company’s operations and manage its business in
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid instruments that have original maturities of three months or less when acquired to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents, which consist of money market funds that invest in U.S. Treasury
12
obligations, as well as overnight repurchase agreements and corporate debt securities, are stated at fair value. The Company maintains its bank accounts in major financial institutions.
Off-Balance Sheet Risk and Concentrations of Credit Risk
The Company has
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), established a fair value hierarchy for instruments measured at fair value that distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are those that reflect the Company’s assumption about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. These are developed based on the best information available under the circumstances.
ASC 820 identified fair value as the exchange price, or exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 established a three-tier fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between the following:
Level 1—Quoted market prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted market prices, interest rates and yield curves.
Level 3—Unobservable inputs developed using estimates or assumptions developed by the Company, which reflect those that a market participant would use.
To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized as Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The carrying amounts reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses, other current assets, restricted cash, accounts payable, accrued expenses and deferred revenue approximate their respective fair values due to their short-term nature.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consists of laboratory equipment, computer equipment, furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements, all of which are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are recorded to expense as incurred. Major betterments are capitalized as additions to property and equipment. Depreciation and amortization are recognized over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method.
Construction-in-progress is stated at cost, which relates to the cost of leasehold improvements not yet placed into service.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company continually evaluates long-lived assets for potential impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the book values of the assets to the expected future net undiscounted cash flows that the assets are expected to generate.
13
If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the book values of the assets exceed their fair value. The Company has
Other Long-Term Assets
Other long-term assets primarily consisted of advance payments made to the contract research organizations responsible for conducting the Company’s tamibarotene clinical trials.
Revenue Recognition
To date the Company’s only revenue has consisted of collaboration and license revenue. The Company has not generated any revenue from product sales and does not expect to generate any revenue from product sales for the foreseeable future.
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). ASC 606 applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps:
The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer. If a contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606 at inception, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within such contract, determines which of those goods and services are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
If the Company performs by transferring goods or services to a customer before the customer pays consideration or before payment is due, the Company records a contract asset, excluding any amounts presented as accounts receivable. The Company includes unbilled accounts receivable as contract assets on its consolidated balance sheets. The Company records accounts receivable for amounts billed to the customer for which the Company has an unconditional right to consideration. The Company assesses contract assets and accounts receivable for impairment and, to date, no impairment losses have been recorded.
From time to time, the Company may enter into agreements that are within the scope of ASC 606. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment to the Company of one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees or prepaid research and development services; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on net sales of licensed products. Each of these payments results in license and collaboration revenues, except for revenues from royalties on net sales of licensed products, which will be classified as royalty revenues.
The Company analyzes its collaboration arrangements to assess whether they are within the scope of ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements (“ASC 808”), to determine whether such arrangements involve joint operating activities performed by parties that are both active participants in the activities and exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of such activities. This assessment is performed throughout the life of the arrangement based on changes in the responsibilities of all parties in the arrangement. For collaboration arrangements within the scope of ASC 808 that contain multiple elements, the Company first determines which elements of the collaboration are deemed to be within the scope of ASC 808 and those that are more reflective of a vendor-customer relationship and therefore within the scope of ASC 606. For elements of collaboration arrangements that are accounted for pursuant to ASC 808, an appropriate recognition method is determined and applied consistently, generally by
14
Research and Development
Expenditures relating to research and development are expensed in the period incurred. Research and development expenses consist of both internal and external costs associated with the development of the Company’s gene control platform and product candidates. Research and development costs include salaries and benefits, materials and supplies, external research, preclinical and clinical development expenses, stock-based compensation expense and facilities costs. Facilities costs primarily include the allocation of rent, utilities, depreciation and amortization.
In certain circumstances, the Company is required to make non-refundable advance payments to vendors for goods or services that will be received in the future for use in research and development activities. In such circumstances, the non-refundable advance payments are deferred and capitalized, even when there is no alternative future use for the research and development, until related goods or services are provided.
The Company records accruals for estimated ongoing research costs. When evaluating the adequacy of the accrued liabilities, the Company analyzes progress of the work being performed, including the phase or completion of the event, invoices received and costs. Significant judgements and estimates may be made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates.
The Company may in-license the rights to develop and commercialize product candidates. For each in-license transaction the Company evaluates whether it has acquired processes or activities along with inputs that would be sufficient to constitute a “business” as defined under U.S. GAAP. A “business” as defined under U.S. GAAP consists of inputs and processes applied to those inputs that have the ability to create outputs. Although businesses usually have outputs, outputs are not required for an integrated set of activities to qualify as a business. When the Company determines that it has not acquired sufficient processes or activities to constitute a business, any up-front payments, as well as milestone payments, are immediately expensed as acquired research and development in the period in which they are incurred.
Warrants
The Company accounts for issued warrants either as a liability or equity in accordance with ASC 480-10, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“ASC 480-10”) or ASC 815-40, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock (“ASC 815-40”). Under ASC 480-10, warrants are considered a liability if they are mandatorily redeemable and they require settlement in cash, other assets, or a variable number of shares. If warrants do not meet liability classification under ASC 480-10, the Company considers the requirements of ASC 815-40 to determine whether the warrants should be classified as a liability or as equity. Under ASC 815-40, contracts that may require settlement for cash are liabilities, regardless of the probability of the occurrence of the triggering event. Liability-classified warrants are measured at fair value on the issuance date and at the end of each reporting period. Any change in the fair value of the warrants after the issuance date is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations as a gain or loss. If warrants do not require liability classification under ASC 815-40, in order to conclude warrants should be classified as equity, the Company assesses whether the warrants are indexed to its common stock and whether the warrants are classified as equity under ASC 815-40 or other applicable GAAP standard. Equity-classified warrants are accounted for at fair value on the issuance date with no changes in fair value recognized after the issuance date.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees and directors, including grants of restricted stock units and stock option awards, to be recognized as expense in the consolidated statements of operations based on their grant date fair values. Consistent with the grants for employees and directors, grants of restricted stock units and stock option awards to other service providers, referred to as non-employees, are measured based on the grant-date fair value of the award and expensed in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations over the vesting period. The expected term of the Company’s stock options has been determined utilizing the “simplified” method for awards that qualify as “plain-vanilla” options. The expected term of stock options granted to non-employees can be determined using either the contractual term of the option award or the “simplified” method. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant of the award for time periods approximately equal to the expected term of the award. Expected dividend yield is based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends and does not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company uses the value of its common stock to determine the fair value of restricted stock awards.
15
The Company expenses the fair value of its stock-based awards to employees and non-employees on a straight-line basis over the associated service period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur instead of estimating forfeitures at the time of grant. Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will be for only those options that vest.
Compensation expense for discounted purchases under the employee stock purchase plan is measured using the Black-Scholes model to compute the fair value of the lookback provision plus the purchase discount and is recognized as compensation expense over the offering period.
For stock-based awards that contain performance-based milestones, the Company records stock-based compensation expense in accordance with the accelerated attribution model. Management evaluates when the achievement of a performance-based milestone is probable based on the expected satisfaction of the performance conditions as of the reporting date.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions using a more-likely-than-not threshold for recognizing and resolving uncertain tax positions. The evaluation of uncertain tax positions is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in the law, the measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns, the effective settlement of matters subject to audit, new audit activity, and changes in facts or circumstances related to a tax position.
Net Loss per Share
Basic net earnings per share applicable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing net earnings applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net earnings per share applicable to common stockholders is calculated by adjusting the weighted average shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period, determined using the treasury-stock method and the if-converted method. For purposes of the calculation of dilutive net loss per share applicable to common stockholders, stock options, unvested restricted stock units, and warrants are considered to be common stock equivalents but are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders, as their effect would be anti-dilutive; therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders were the same for all periods presented.
As of June 30, 2023,
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:
|
|
As of June 30, |
|
|||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
||
Stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Unvested restricted stock units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Warrants* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
* As of June 30, 2023 , this is comprised of
16
loan agreement in February 2020 (refer to Note 8),
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 replaces the incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss model that requires the use of forward-looking information to calculate credit loss estimates. It also eliminates the concept of other-than-temporary impairment and requires credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses instead of as a reduction in the amortized cost basis of the securities. ASU 2016-13 becomes effective for smaller reporting companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and early adoption is permitted. The Company
3. Recapitalization
On September 16, 2022, the Company issued approximately
Under the recapitalization accounting model, the net assets acquired are recognized at fair value and any excess consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets are reflected as a reduction to equity. Transaction costs incurred attributable to the Merger are also reflected as a reduction to the equity.
The carrying value of Tyme’s net assets as of September 16, 2022, which approximates fair value because of its short-term nature, is set forth below:
|
|
|
|
Fair Value |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Marketable securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
$ |
|
No value has been ascribed to the development programs acquired from Tyme in the Merger.
The Company incurred $
17
4. Collaboration and Research Arrangements
Collaboration with Global Blood Therapeutics
On December 17, 2019, the Company entered into a license and collaboration agreement (the “GBT Collaboration Agreement”) with Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (“GBT”), now a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., pursuant to which the parties agreed to a research collaboration to discover novel targets that induce fetal hemoglobin in order to develop new small molecule treatments for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. The research term (the “Research Term”) was for an initial period of
Pursuant to the terms of the GBT Collaboration Agreement, GBT paid the Company an upfront payment of $
The Company granted to GBT an option (the “Option”) to obtain an exclusive, worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, under relevant intellectual property rights and know-how of the Company arising from the collaboration to develop, manufacture and commercialize any compounds or products resulting from the collaboration. This Option will terminate simultaneously with the effective date of termination of the GBT Collaboration Agreement, and the Company will
GBT Collaboration Revenue
The Company analyzed the GBT Collaboration Agreement and concluded that it represents a contract with a customer within the scope of ASC 606.
The Company identified a single performance obligation, which includes a (i) non-exclusive research license that GBT will have access to during the initial Research Term and (ii) research and development services provided during the initial Research Term. The GBT Collaboration Agreement includes the Option. The Option does not provide a material right to GBT that it would receive without entering into the GBT Collaboration Agreement, principally because the Option exercise fee is at least equal to the standalone selling price for the underlying goods. The non-exclusive research license is not distinct as GBT cannot benefit from the license without the research and development services that are separately identifiable in the contract. The non-exclusive research license only allows GBT to evaluate the candidate compounds developed under the research plan or to conduct work allocated to it during the Research Term. GBT cannot extract any benefit from the non-exclusive research license without the research and development services performed by the Company, including the provision of data package information. As such, these two promises are inputs to a combined output (the delivery of data package allowing GBT to make an Option exercise decision) and are bundled into a single performance obligation (the non-exclusive research license and research and development service performance obligation).
At inception, the total transaction price was determined to be approximately $
ASC 606 requires an entity to recognize revenue only when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service to a customer. A good or service is considered to be transferred when the customer obtains
18
control. As the non-exclusive research license and research and development services represent one performance obligation, the Company has determined that it will satisfy its performance obligation over a period of time as services are performed and GBT receives the benefit of the services, as the overall purpose of the arrangement is for the Company to perform the services. The Company will recognize revenue associated with the performance obligation as the research and development services are provided using an input method, according to the costs incurred as related to the research and development activities and the costs expected to be incurred in the future to satisfy the performance obligation. The transfer of control occurs during this time and is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation. The Company will re-evaluate the costs expected to be incurred to satisfy the performance obligation, considering the termination of the GBT Collaboration Agreement as of
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company recognized revenue of $
Agreements with Incyte Corporation
In January 2018, the Company and Incyte entered into a Target Discovery, Research Collaboration and Option Agreement (the “Incyte Collaboration Agreement”). The Incyte Collaboration Agreement was amended in November 2019. Under the Incyte Collaboration Agreement, the Company is using its proprietary gene control platform to identify novel therapeutic targets with a focus on myeloproliferative neoplasms, and Incyte has received options to obtain exclusive worldwide rights to intellectual property resulting from the collaboration for the development and commercialization of therapeutic products directed to up to seven validated targets. For each option exercised by Incyte, Incyte will have the exclusive worldwide right to use the licensed intellectual property to develop and commercialize therapeutic products that modulate the target as to which the option was exercised. Under the terms of the Incyte Collaboration Agreement, Incyte paid the Company $
In January 2018, the Company also entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Incyte (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) whereby, for an aggregate purchase price of $
Incyte Collaboration Revenue
The Company analyzed the Incyte Collaboration Agreement and concluded that it represents a contract with a customer within the scope of ASC 606.
The Company identified a single performance obligation which includes (i) a research license that Incyte retains as long as there remains an unexercised option (the “Research License”), and (ii) research and development services provided during the research term. The Incyte Collaboration Agreement includes options to (x) obtain additional time to exercise the license options for certain targets designated as definitive validation targets, and (y) obtain license rights to each validated target, both of which were not considered by the Company’s management to be material rights, and therefore not performance obligations, at inception.
19
At inception, the total transaction price was determined to be $
The Incyte Collaboration Agreement also provides for development and regulatory milestones that are only payable subsequent to the exercise of an option and were therefore excluded from the transaction price at inception. The Company re-evaluates the transaction price at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur.
The Company recognizes revenue associated with the performance obligation as the research and development services are provided using an input method, according to the costs incurred as related to the research and development activities and the costs expected to be incurred in the future to satisfy the performance obligation. The transfer of control occurs during this time and is the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance obligation. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has completed all of the target validation activities allocated to it under the research plan and all deferred revenue were recognized.
The Company did
The following table presents the changes in contract liabilities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
Balance at |
|
|
Additions |
|
|
Deductions |
|
|
Balance at June 30, 2023 |
|
||||
Contract liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Deferred revenue - GBT |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Total contract liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
5. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Marketable securities consist of securities with original maturities greater than 90 days when purchased. The Company classifies these marketable securities as available-for-sale and records them at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Premiums or discounts from par value are amortized to interest income over the life of the underlying security.
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities consisted of the following as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
||||
June 30, 2023 |
|
Amortized Cost |
|
|
Gains |
|
|
Losses |
|
|
Value |
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash and money market funds |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Marketable securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Commercial paper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Municipal bonds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
US Treasury obligation - due in one year or less |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Total: |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
||||
December 31, 2022 |
|
Amortized Cost |
|
|
Gains |
|
|
Losses |
|
|
Value |
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash and money market funds |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Marketable securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Corporate debt securities - due in one year or less |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Commercial paper |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Municipal bonds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
US Treasury obligation - due in one year or less |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
Although available to be sold to meet operating needs or otherwise, securities are generally held through maturity. The cost of securities sold is determined based on the specific identification method for purposes of recording realized gains and losses. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, there were
As of June 30, 2023, marketable securities with maturities of one year or less when purchased are presented in current assets and those with maturities of more than one year are presented in the noncurrent assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
As of June 30, 2023, the Company had
6. Fair Value Measurements
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Active |
|
|
Observable |
|
|
Unobservable |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
Markets |
|
|
Inputs |
|
|
Inputs |
|
||||
Description |
|
June 30, 2023 |
|
|
(Level 1) |
|
|
(Level 2) |
|
|
(Level 3) |
|
||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash and money market funds |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
||
Marketable securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Commercial paper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Municipal bonds |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
US Treasury obligation - due in one year or less |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Total: |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Warrant liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
Active |
|
|
Observable |
|
|
Unobservable |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
Markets |
|
|
Inputs |
|
|
Inputs |
|
||||
Description |
|
December 31, 2022 |
|
|
(Level 1) |
|
|
(Level 2) |
|
|
(Level 3) |
|
||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash and money market funds |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
||
Marketable securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Corporate debt securities - due in one year or less |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Commercial paper |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Municipal bonds |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
||
US Treasury obligation - due in one year or less |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Warrant liabilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
Assumptions Used in Determining Fair Value of Warrants
The Company issued the 2022 Warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to
A summary of the Black Scholes pricing model assumptions used to record the fair value of the Warrants is as follows:
|
|
June 30, 2023 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2022 |
||||
Stock price |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
||
Average risk-free interest rate |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
||
Dividend yield |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Average expected life (in years) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Average expected volatility |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
Changes in Level 3 Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table reflects the change in the Company’s Level 3 warrant liability for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, 2023 |
|
|
|
December 31, 2022 |
|
||
Fair value of warrant liabilities as of beginning of year |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
||
Warrants issued in connection with 2022 Private Placement |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in fair value |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Fair value of warrant liabilities as of end of period |
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
7. Restricted Cash
As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $
In connection with the execution of the HQ Lease, the Company was required to provide the landlord with a letter of credit in the amount of $
22
Lease. The Company will have the right, under certain conditions, to reduce the amount of the letter of credit to $
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the amounts shown in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of cash flows as of June 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, |
|
|||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Restricted cash, net of current portion |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
||
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
8. Oxford Finance Loan Agreement
On February 12, 2020, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with Oxford Finance LLC (the “Lender”). Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, a term loan of up to an aggregate principal amount of $
The Company paid a facility fee of $
In connection with the Loan Agreement, the Company granted the Lender a security interest in all of the Company’s personal property now owned or hereafter acquired, excluding intellectual property (but including the right to payments and proceeds of intellectual property), and a negative pledge on intellectual property. The Loan Agreement also contains certain events of default, representations, warranties and non-financial covenants of the Company.
In connection with the funding of the first tranche in February 2020, the Company issued the Lender warrants to purchase
The Oxford Warrants are classified as a component of permanent equity because they are freestanding financial instruments that are legally detachable and separately exercisable from the shares of common stock with which they were issued, are immediately exercisable, do not embody an obligation for the Company to repurchase its shares, and permit the holders to receive a fixed number of shares of common stock upon exercise. In addition, the Oxford Warrants do not provide any guarantee of value or return.
23
The Company has the following minimum aggregate future loan payments as of June 30, 2023 (in thousands):
Six months ending December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
— |
|
Year ending December 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Year ending December 31, 2025 |
|
|
|
|
Year ending December 31, 2026 |
|
|
|
|
Total minimum payments |
|
|
|
|
Less unamortized debt discount |
|
|
( |
) |
Plus accumulated accretion of final fees |
|
|
|
|
Less current portion |
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt, net of current portion |
|
$ |
|
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, interest expense related to the Loan Agreement was approximately $
9. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consisted of the following as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, 2023 |
|
|
December 31, 2022 |
|
||
External research and preclinical development |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Employee compensation and benefits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Professional fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Facilities and other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accrued expenses |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
10. Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Lease
On January 8, 2019, the Company entered into a lease (the “HQ Lease”) with respect to approximately
In connection with the execution of the HQ Lease, the Company was required to provide the landlord with a letter of credit in the amount of $
24
The Company
The following is a maturity analysis of the annual undiscounted cash flows reconciled to the carrying value of the operating lease liabilities as of June 30, 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
Operating |
|
|
Six Months ending December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
|
|
Year ending December 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
Year ending December 31, 2025 |
|
|
|
|
Year ending December 31, 2026 |
|
|
|
|
Year ending December 31, 2027 and beyond |
|
|
|
|
Total minimum lease payments |
|
|
|
|
Less imputed interest |
|
|
( |
) |
Total lease liability |
|
$ |
|
The following table outlines the total lease cost for the Company’s operating leases as well as weighted average information for these leases as of June 30, 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 |
|
|
Lease cost: |
|
|
|
|
Operating lease cost |
|
$ |
|
|
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
Operating cash flows from operating lease |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other information: |
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 |
|
|
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years) - operating lease |
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average discount rate - operating lease |
|
|
|
Following the adoption of ASC 842, the Company has a right-of-use asset and lease liability that results in recording a temporary tax difference. This temporary tax difference is the result of recognizing a right-of-use asset and related lease liability while such asset and liability have no corresponding tax basis.
Asset Purchase Agreement
Orsenix, LLC
On December 4, 2020, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) with Orsenix, LLC (“Orsenix”), pursuant to which the Company acquired Orsenix’s assets related to a novel oral form of arsenic trioxide, which the Company refers to as SY-2101. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company is required to pay to Orsenix:
The Company’s obligation to pay the commercial milestone payments expires following the tenth anniversary of the first commercial sale of SY-2101. The Asset Purchase Agreement requires the Company to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize SY-2101 for APL in the United States during such period, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to dose the first patient in a Phase 3 clinical trial of SY-2101 on or before the third anniversary of the closing of the transaction; however, the Company retains sole discretion to operate the acquired assets as it determines. The assets acquired from Orsenix do not meet the definition of a business under ASC 805 “Business
25
Combinations” (“ASC 805”) because substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset, the rights to SY-2101. Furthermore, as the acquired asset does not include a substantive process, the asset does not meet the minimum requirements to be considered a business under ASC 805. As SY-2101 does not have an alternative future use, the Company recorded the $
License Agreement
TMRC Co. Ltd.
In September 2015, the Company entered into an exclusive license agreement with TMRC Co. Ltd. ("TMRC") to develop and commercialize tamibarotene in North America and Europe for the treatment of cancer. This agreement was amended and restated in April 2016, and further amended in January 2021 to expand the territory under which the Company is licensed to include Central and South America, Australia, Israel, and Russia.
In exchange for this license, the Company agreed to a non-refundable upfront payment of $
The Company also entered into a supply management agreement with TMRC under which the Company agreed to pay TMRC a fee for each kilogram of tamibarotene that is produced. The Company incurred fees of $
11. Stockholders’ Equity
Increase of Authorized Shares and Reverse Stock Split
Effective on
On September 16, 2022, the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock was proportionately adjusted from
26
Issuance of Securities through a Private Placement
On September 16, 2022, the Company issued in a private placement
On December 8, 2020, the Company issued in a private placement (the "2020 Private Placement")
In the event of certain fundamental transactions involving the Company, the holders of the 2022 Warrants and 2020 Warrants may require the Company to make a payment based on a Black-Scholes valuation, using specified inputs. The holders of 2022 Pre-Funded Warrants and 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants do not have similar rights. Therefore, the Company accounted for the 2022 Warrants and 2020 Warrants as liabilities, while the 2022 Pre-Funded Warrants and 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants met the permanent equity criteria classification. The 2022 Pre-Funded Warrants and 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants are classified as a component of permanent equity because they are freestanding financial instruments that are legally detachable and separately exercisable from the shares of common stock with which they were issued, are immediately exercisable, do not embody an obligation for the Company to repurchase its shares, and permit the holders to receive a fixed number of shares of common stock upon exercise. In addition, the 2022 Pre-Funded Warrants and 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants do not provide any guarantee of value or return. The initial fair value of the 2022 Warrants and the 2020 Warrants at issuance was $
Issuance of Securities through an Underwritten Public Offering
On January 22, 2021, the Company issued and sold an aggregate of
Convertible Preferred Stock and 2019 Warrants
On April 9, 2019, the Company completed
In November 2019, all
Each 2019 Warrant had an exercise price per share of common stock of $
27
certain exceptions, from exercising the 2019 Warrant for shares of the Company’s common stock to the extent that immediately prior to or after giving effect to such exercise, the holder, together with its affiliates and other attribution parties, would own more than
12. Stock-Based Payments
2016 Stock Incentive Plan
The 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) was adopted by the board of directors on December 15, 2015, approved by the stockholders on June 17, 2016, and became effective on July 6, 2016 upon the closing of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”). The 2016 Plan replaced the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”). Any options or awards outstanding under the 2012 Plan remained outstanding and effective. The 2016 Plan was replaced by 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 EIP”) on September 16, 2022, and no further awards may be made under the 2016 Plan.
2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2016 ESPP”) was adopted by the board of directors on December 15, 2015, approved by the stockholders on June 17, 2016, and became effective on July 6, 2016 upon the closing of the IPO. The number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the 2016 ESPP automatically increases on the first day of each calendar year through the 2025 calendar year, in an amount equal to the least of (i)
Inducement Grants
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company granted non-statutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of
2022 Inducement Stock Incentive Plan
On January 25, 2022, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2022 Inducement Stock Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”), pursuant to which the Company may grant non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards with respect to an aggregate of
2022 Equity Incentive Plan
The 2022 EIP was adopted by the board of directors on July 14, 2022, approved by the stockholders and became effective on September 15, 2022. The 2022 EIP replaced the 2016 Plan. Any options or awards outstanding under the 2016 Plan remained outstanding and effective. Under the 2022 EIP, the Company may grant incentive stock
28
options, non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards.
Stock Options
Terms of stock option agreements, including vesting requirements, are determined by the board of directors, subject to the provisions of the applicable stock plan. Stock option awards granted by the Company generally vest over
A summary of the status of stock options as of December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2023 and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2023 is presented below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
Remaining |
|
|
Intrinsic |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
|
Contractual |
|
|
Value |
|
||||
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Exercise Price |
|
|
Life (in years) |
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|||
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Exercised |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cancelled |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Outstanding at June 30, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|||
Exercisable at June 30, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company assumed certain Tyme stock options that were outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the completion of the Merger. The Company issued options to purchase
There were
As of June 30, 2023, there was $
Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Awards
From time to time, upon approval by the Company’s board of directors, certain employees have been granted restricted stock units with time-based vesting criteria. The majority of these restricted stock units vest annually over a
The Company has granted performance-based restricted stock units to management for which vesting occurs upon the achievement of certain clinical development milestones. Stock-based compensation expense associated with these performance-based restricted stock units is recognized when the achievement of the vesting conditions becomes probable. The Company did not recognize any stock-based compensation expense relating to the achievement of performance-based milestones during the six months ended June 30, 2023.
29
A summary of the status of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards as of December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2023 and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2023 is presented below:
|
|
Shares |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Subject to |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Restricted Stock |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Units and |
|
|
Weighted |
|
||
|
|
Restricted Stock |
|
|
Average Grant |
|
||
|
|
Awards |
|
|
Date Fair Value |
|
||
Outstanding at December 31, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Vested |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
Forfeited |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at June 30, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
As of June 30, 2023, there was $
Stock-based Compensation Expense
The fair value of each stock option granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the following weighted-average assumptions:
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
||||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
||||
Weighted-average risk-free interest rate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Expected dividend yield |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Expected option term (in years) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Volatility |
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
|
The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of options granted in the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was $
The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense for stock options, restricted stock units and restricted common stock granted to employees and non-employees and from the 2016 ESPP recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations:
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
||||
Research and development |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
||||
General and administrative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total stock-based compensation expense |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Due to an operating loss, the Company does not record tax benefits associated with stock‑based compensation or option exercises. Tax benefits will be recorded when realized.
30
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited financial information and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 2, 2023, or the 2022 10-K. Our actual results and timing of certain events may differ materially from the results discussed, projected, anticipated, or indicated in any forward-looking statements. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.
The following information and any forward-looking statements should also be considered in light of risks identified under the caption “Risk Factors” in the 2022 10-K and in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us, which speak only as of the date they are made. We disclaim any obligation, except as specifically required by law and the rules of the SEC, to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing new standards of care for the frontline treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies. Driven by the motivation to help patients with blood disorders that have largely eluded other targeted approaches, we are advancing a late-stage clinical pipeline which includes our lead product candidates:
In addition, we are currently exploring out-licensing opportunities for SY-5609, a highly selective and potent oral inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 7, or CDK7, which we have evaluated as a single agent in patients with select solid tumors and in combination with chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients in a Phase 1 clinical trial. SY-5609 is also being evaluated in combination with atezolizumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor, in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer in an arm of a Phase 1/1b clinical trial sponsored by F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, or Roche, which is actively enrolling. We also have multiple preclinical and discovery programs in oncology, including SY-12882, our oral CDK12 inhibitor, and programs targeting the inhibition of CDK11 and WRN. We have also entered into a collaboration with Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., or GBT, now a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., or Pfizer, to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapies for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. Pfizer has elected to terminate this collaboration, and the effective date of termination is October 16, 2023. We are currently exploring out-license opportunities for our oncology discovery programs and intend to explore out-license opportunities for our sickle cell disease program.
Tamibarotene
At the 62nd American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition held in December 2020, or ASH 2020, we presented data from our fully enrolled Phase 2 clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of tamibarotene in combination with azacitidine in newly diagnosed AML patients who are not suitable candidates for standard intensive chemotherapy, as well as in relapsed or refractory, or R/R, AML patients who have been prospectively selected using our proprietary RARA, the gene that codes for RARα, biomarker. As of an October 1, 2020 data cut-off, 51 newly diagnosed unfit AML patients, including patients with and without RARA gene overexpression, were eligible for a safety analysis. Among these patients, tamibarotene in combination with azacitidine was generally well-tolerated, with no
31
evidence of increased toxicity relative to either as a single agent, including rates of myelosuppression that were comparable to single agent azacitidine. As of the data cut-off, of the 18 patients with RARA overexpression that were evaluable for clinical response, the composite complete response rate was 61%, with 50% of patients achieving complete response, or CR, and 11% achieving a complete response with incomplete blood count recovery, or CRi. The median time to initial composite CR was 1.2 months, the median duration of composite complete remission was 10.8 months, and the median overall survival, or OS, among patients who achieved a CR or CRi was 18.0 months. As of the data cut-off, of the 28 patients without RARA overexpression that were evaluable for clinical response, the overall response rate, or ORR, was 43%, with a composite complete response rate of 32%, with 25% of patients achieving CR and 7% achieving CRi. The median time to initial composite complete remission was 3.0 months, and the median duration of composite complete remission was 10.3 months. We also presented translational data demonstrating that most newly diagnosed unfit AML patients with RARA overexpression enrolled in our Phase 2 study had a monocytic disease phenotype that is associated with resistance to venetoclax. These data suggest that the RARA biomarker not only selects for patients who are more likely to respond to treatment with tamibarotene but also for patients who may be less likely to benefit from treatment with venetoclax. Approximately 25,000 patients are diagnosed with unfit AML in the United States and Europe annually and we expect the overall total addressable market opportunity for all AML patients to grow to approximately $6.6 billion by 2025.
Based on these data and our assessment of ongoing areas of high unmet need, we advanced tamibarotene in combination with azacitidine into a registration-enabling Phase 3 clinical trial in newly diagnosed HR-MDS patients with RARA overexpression, which we refer to as SELECT-MDS-1. HR-MDS is a hematologic malignancy that is closely related to AML, and we believe that approximately 50% of HR-MDS patients overexpress RARA. We believe that approximately 21,000 patients are diagnosed with HR-MDS in the United States and Europe annually and we expect the total addressable market opportunity for MDS patients of all risk groups to grow to approximately $3.3 billion by 2026. The SELECT-MDS-1 trial is evaluating newly diagnosed HR-MDS patients with RARA overexpression in a double-blind placebo-controlled study design, randomized 2:1 to receive tamibarotene in combination with azacitidine, or placebo in combination with azacitidine, respectively. The primary efficacy endpoint is based on 190 patients to provide over 90% power to detect a difference in CR rates between the experimental and control arms with a one-sided alpha of 0.025. In recent communications, the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has continued to support the use of the CR rate as an acceptable efficacy endpoint for either full or accelerated approval for treatment of newly diagnosed HR-MDS with supporting data on durability of remission. Informed by feedback from the FDA, we amended the SELECT-MDS-1 clinical trial protocol in March 2023 to include a total of approximately 550 patients to enable us to assess overall survival, or OS, as a key secondary endpoint, which could allow the trial to serve as a confirmatory study if needed to convert an accelerated approval to a full approval in the future. The amended clinical trial protocol is designed with 80% power to detect a difference in OS rates for the key secondary endpoint between the experimental and control arms, also with a one-sided alpha of 0.025. We are currently dosing patients in SELECT-MDS-1, and we expect to complete enrollment of the patients for the CR primary endpoint analysis in the fourth quarter of 2023, and to report pivotal CR data from the SELECT-MDS-1 trial in the third quarter of 2024.
In addition, we advanced tamibarotene in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine in newly diagnosed unfit AML patients with RARA overexpression. Our ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial, known as SELECT-AML-1, included a single-arm safety lead-in to confirm the dosing regimen of the triplet to be used in the randomized portion of the trial, which will evaluate the safety and efficacy of tamibarotene in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine compared to venetoclax and azacitidine in approximately 80 patients randomized 1:1. We reported clinical activity data from the safety lead-in portion of the ongoing trial at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in December 2022, or ASH 2022. As of the data cut-off, eight newly diagnosed, unfit patients who were positive for RARA overexpression had been enrolled in the trial, including six who were evaluable for response. In this population, tamibarotene in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine administered at approved doses showed no evidence of increased toxicity relative to the doublet combination of venetoclax and azacitidine. This includes rates of myelosuppression, which were comparable to reports with venetoclax and azacitidine in this population. Among these patients, the CR/CRi rate was 83%, consisting of two patients (33%) who achieved a CR and three patients (50%) who achieved a CRi. Four of five patients (80%) who achieved a CR or CRi had a high monocytic expression score, or MES, which may be associated with venetoclax resistance. The median time to CR/CRi response was 33 days, the median duration of treatment was 76.5 days, and the median duration of follow-up was 107 days. These early data compare favorably to the standard-of-care combination of venetoclax and azacitidine, which shows composite CR rates of 66% in newly diagnosed unfit AML patients. The primary endpoint of the trial will be the composite CR rate. The trial will also evaluate the triplet as a salvage strategy for patients in the control arm who do not respond to venetoclax and azacitidine. We initiated the randomized portion of the trial in the first quarter of 2023, and we expect to report initial randomized data in the fourth quarter of 2023 and additional data in 2024.
In March 2022, we entered into an agreement with Qiagen Manchester Limited, or Qiagen, under which Qiagen agreed to develop and commercialize an assay as a companion diagnostic test to determine the expression level of our
32
proprietary RARA biomarker for use with tamibarotene in newly diagnosed higher-risk MDS patients. Qiagen will also be responsible for obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals for the commercial diagnostic test.
SY-2101
In December 2020, we acquired from Orsenix, LLC, or Orsenix, a novel oral form of ATO, which we refer to as SY-2101. SY-2101 is in development for the treatment of APL, a subtype of AML defined by a fusion of the RARA and promyelocytic leukemia, or PML, genes. APL represents approximately 10% of all AML cases, and approximately 2,000 patients are diagnosed with APL in the United States and Europe annually. An intravenously administered, or IV, formulation of ATO is approved for use in combination with All-Trans-Retinoic-Acid, or ATRA, in patients with newly diagnosed low-risk APL and, while curative in more than 80% of patients, its administration requires up to 140 two- to four-hour infusions over the typical course of induction and consolidation treatment. We believe SY-2101 has the potential to become the standard-of-care frontline therapy for APL by providing a substantially more convenient option that reduces the treatment burden on patients, improving access, and lowering costs to the healthcare system. In a prior Phase 1 clinical trial, SY-2101 demonstrated bioavailability, pharmacokinetic, or PK, exposures similar to IV ATO, and a generally well-tolerated safety profile. We are dosing patients in a dose confirmation study of SY-2101. The ongoing dose confirmation study is designed to evaluate the PK, food effect, safety and tolerability of SY-2101 and is expected to enroll between six and 24 adult APL patients undergoing consolidation with IV ATO plus ATRA. Participants receive a single dose of 15 mg of SY-2101 in both the fasted and in the fed state, and a single dose of IV ATO for PK assessments, with flexibility to allow for other SY-2101 doses to be evaluated. Daily administration of SY-2101 is also being evaluated in a multiple-dose treatment module substituting for IV ATO during consolidation to assess steady state SY-2101 PK and safety. Based on preliminary data available to date in our ongoing Phase 1 dose confirmation study, SY-2101 administered at 15 mg achieved comparable PK (AUC and Cmax) exposures to IV ATO at the approved dose of 0.15 mg/kg. Additionally, based on the data available to date, SY-2101 showed high oral bioavailability of approximately 80% and continues to support a favorable tolerability profile.
To date, feedback from the FDA and the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, in the context of the original SY-2101 PK data supports a single registration-enabling study of approximately 215 patients with newly diagnosed low-risk APL, randomized 2:1 to receive SY-2101 or IV ATO and designed with molecular complete response and event-free survival as primary endpoints for potential approval. Based on the emerging PK cross-over data directly comparing SY-2101 to the approved dose of IV ATO in our dose confirmation trial, and assuming that additional data is supportive, we believe there may be an opportunity to explore a more efficient registration pathway to potential approval. We plan to provide an update on the dose confirmation study, as well as the development path and timing for further evaluation of SY-2101 in a registration enabling study in APL, in the second half of 2023.
SY-5609
At the American Society for Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting held in June 2023, or ASCO 2023, we presented data from the Phase 1/1b clinical trial evaluating SY-5609, our highly selective and potent inhibitor of CDK7, in patients with relapsed/refractory pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, or PDAC, HR+ breast cancer and other solid tumors. The Phase 1/1b trial of SY-5609 is a multi-center, open-label study, consisting of two parts: the first part is a dose escalation study, evaluating single agent SY-5609 in patients with select advanced solid tumors and in combination with fulvestrant in HR+ breast cancer, and the second part included a combination safety lead-in designed to inform a dose expansion study, evaluating the doublet regimen of SY-5609 and gemcitabine and the triplet regimen of SY-5609, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients with PDAC in their second or third line of treatment. We are currently seeking out-licensing opportunities for the further development of SY-5609.
The data presented at ASCO 2023 demonstrated that the maximum tolerated dose, or MTD, of SY-5609 as a single-agent was 10 mg using a 7 day on/7 day off dosing schedule. For the doublet regimen, the MTD was 5 mg SY-5609 plus 1000 mg gemcitabine. A MTD was not established using the triplet cohort of SY-5609, gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Each of the single-agent, doublet and the triplet regimens were generally well-tolerated with mostly low-grade events. Encouraging clinical activity was observed with SY-5609 both as a single-agent (10 mg) and in combination (4 or 5 mg plus gemcitabine). Among the three response evaluable patients with select solid tumors in the 10 mg single agent cohort, data demonstrated a 100% disease control rate, or DCR. This included one patient with PDAC who experienced a 10% tumor reduction. Of the nine response-evaluable patients treated with 4 or 5 mg of SY-5609 in combination with gemcitabine, the data demonstrated a 44% DCR (four patients). The 10 mg single-agent DCR of 100% is superior to results observed with lower doses of SY-5609 on the 7 day on/7 day off schedule and the doublet DCR of 44% is comparable to current second-line benchmarks.
33
Patients enrolled in the fulvestrant cohort of the study presented with advanced disease: 78.6% (11 of 14 patients) had liver metastases and were heavily pre-treated, 78.6% (11 of 14 patients) had received five or more prior therapies, 100% (14 of 14 patients) had progressed on CDK4/6 therapy, and 85.7% (12 of 14 patients) had received prior fulvestrant. The data show that the combination of SY-5609 and fulvestrant demonstrated an acceptable safety profile across a variety of dosing schedules. The adverse event profile of the combination was generally consistent with the safety profile of single agent SY-5609 or fulvestrant, with no new safety signals emerging from the combination at evaluated doses and dosing schedules. An MTD was not established. Twelve patients were evaluable for response across a range of doses and dosing schedules. Five of 12 achieved stable disease for a DCR of 42%; three of these five patients achieved target lesion regression. Three patients remained on treatment with SD for greater than six months, including patients with the TP53 mutation, prior fulvestrant exposure and/or liver disease.
In August 2021, we announced entry into a clinical supply agreement with Roche, pursuant to which we agreed to supply SY-5609 for a combination dosing cohort with atezolizumab in Roche’s ongoing Phase 1/1b INTRINSIC trial, which is evaluating multiple targeted therapies or immunotherapy, including atezolizumab, as single agents or in rational specified combinations in molecularly defined subsets of colorectal cancer patients. SY-5609 is being evaluated in combination with atezolizumab in patients with BRAF-mutant disease, and this arm of the trial is now actively enrolling. Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will sponsor and conduct the Phase 1/1b study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of the combination of SY-5609 and atezolizumab and will assume all costs associated with the study. In exchange for providing SY-5609, we will receive access to the data on SY-5609 in combination with atezolizumab. We retain all rights to SY-5609.
Strategic Financing
On July 3, 2022, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, or the Merger Agreement, with Tack Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of us, or the Merger Sub, and Tyme Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Tyme, providing for the merger of the Merger Sub with and into Tyme, with Tyme surviving the merger as our wholly-owned subsidiary, or the Merger. In connection with the closing of the Merger on September 16, 2022, we acquired net cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $67.1 million, before deducting severance costs and other commitments entered into by Tyme management prior to the consummation of the Merger of approximately $4.5 million.
Also on July 3, 2022, immediately prior to the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain accredited investors, pursuant to which the investors agreed to purchase shares of our common stock and/or pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, and accompanying warrants to purchase additional shares of our common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof), or the PIPE Financing.
On September 16, 2022, the PIPE Financing closed concurrently with the Merger. At the closing of the Merger, we issued an aggregate of 7,546,014 shares of our common stock to Tyme stockholders. In the PIPE Financing, we issued an aggregate of 6,387,173 shares of our common stock and, in lieu of shares to certain investors, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 7,426,739 shares of common stock, and, in each case, accompanying warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 13,813,912 additional shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock in lieu thereof). We received aggregate gross proceeds from the PIPE Financing of $129.9 million, before deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us and not inclusive of any exercise of the warrants.
Financial Operations Overview
Revenue
To date, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and do not expect to generate any revenue from product sales for the foreseeable future. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, we recognized revenue of $2.8 million and $5.8 million, respectively, related to our collaboration with GBT. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, we recognized revenue of $6.3 million and $11.7 million, respectively, of which $5.7 million and $10.7 million was related to our collaboration with GBT and $0.6 million and $1.0 million was related to our collaboration with Incyte.
34
Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for our research activities, including development of our gene control platform and the development of our product candidates, which include:
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Nonrefundable advance payments made to vendors for goods or services that will be received in the future for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized, even when there is no alternative future use for the research and development, until related goods or services are provided.
We typically use our employee, consultant and infrastructure resources across our research and development programs. We track outsourced development costs by product candidate or development program, but we do not allocate personnel costs, other internal costs or certain external consultant costs to specific product candidates or development programs. Based on our current operating plans, we expect that any future research and development expenses relating to our preclinical and drug discovery programs will be reimbursed by a collaboration partner.
The following table summarizes our external research and development expenses by program, as well as expenses not allocated to programs, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
|
Six Months Ended |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
June 30, |
|
|
|
June 30, |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
||||
Tamibarotene external costs |
|
|
$ |
14,978 |
|
|
$ |
15,851 |
|
|
|
$ |
28,334 |
|
|
$ |
21,947 |
|
|
SY-5609 program external costs |
|
|
|
1,025 |
|
|
|
1,387 |
|
|
|
|
2,343 |
|
|
|
4,057 |
|
|
SY-2101 program external costs |
|
|
|
1,094 |
|
|
|
1,067 |
|
|
|
|
3,008 |
|
|
|
2,729 |
|
|
Other research and platform program external costs |
|
|
|
2,200 |
|
|
|
3,565 |
|
|
|
|
3,733 |
|
|
|
7,850 |
|
|
Employee-related expenses, including stock-based compensation |
|
|
|
7,252 |
|
|
|
7,845 |
|
|
|
|
14,779 |
|
|
|
15,131 |
|
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
|
1,384 |
|
|
|
1,433 |
|
|
|
|
2,650 |
|
|
|
2,828 |
|
|
Facilities and other expenses |
|
|
|
1,675 |
|
|
|
1,952 |
|
|
|
|
3,522 |
|
|
|
3,729 |
|
|
Total research and development expenses |
|
|
$ |
29,608 |
|
|
$ |
33,100 |
|
|
|
$ |
58,369 |
|
|
$ |
58,271 |
|
|
We expect our research and development expenses will increase for the foreseeable future as we seek to advance our programs. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of our product candidates. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflows will commence from sales of our product candidates. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing such product candidates, including the uncertainty of:
35
Any changes in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of our product candidates could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of these product candidates. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to delay our planned start of clinical trials or require us to conduct clinical trials or other testing beyond those that we currently expect or if we experience significant delays in enrollment in any of our planned clinical trials, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development of our product candidates.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other related costs, including stock-based compensation, for personnel in executive, finance, information technology and administrative functions. Other significant costs include corporate facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses, legal fees related to patent and corporate matters, and fees for accounting and consulting services.
We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the future as we increase our headcount to support our continued research activities and development of our product candidates.
Interest Income
Interest income consists of interest income on our cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities, including the related amortization of premium and discounts.
Interest Expense
Interest expense consists of interest, amortization of debt discount, and amortization of deferred financing costs associated with our loans payable, and interest on finance lease arrangements.
Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability
Change in fair value of warrant liability is the result of the remeasurement of the fair value of our warrant liability at each reporting period end.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
36
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our judgments and estimates in light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. The effects of material revisions in estimates, if any, will be reflected in the financial statements prospectively from the date of the change in estimates.
We believe that our most critical accounting policies are those relating to revenue recognition, accrued research and development expenses and stock-based compensation. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies as discussed in our 2022 10-K.
Results of Operations
Comparison of three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, together with the changes in those items in dollars (in thousands):
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Dollar Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
|
||||
Statements of Operations Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Revenue |
|
$ |
2,833 |
|
|
$ |
6,276 |
|
|
$ |
(3,443 |
) |
|
|
(55 |
) |
% |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Research and development |
|
|
29,608 |
|
|
|
33,100 |
|
|
|
(3,492 |
) |
|
|
(11 |
) |
% |
General and administrative |
|
|
7,225 |
|
|
|
6,945 |
|
|
|
280 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
% |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
36,833 |
|
|
|
40,045 |
|
|
|
(3,212 |
) |
|
|
(8 |
) |
% |
Loss from operations |
|
|
(34,000 |
) |
|
|
(33,769 |
) |
|
|
(231 |
) |
|
|
1 |
|
% |
Interest income |
|
|
2,125 |
|
|
|
112 |
|
|
|
2,013 |
|
|
|
1,797 |
|
% |
Interest expense |
|
|
(1,278 |
) |
|
|
(981 |
) |
|
|
(297 |
) |
|
|
30 |
|
% |
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
|
|
(3,105 |
) |
|
|
157 |
|
|
|
(3,262 |
) |
|
|
(2,078 |
) |
% |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(36,258 |
) |
|
$ |
(34,481 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,777 |
) |
|
|
5 |
|
% |
Revenue
For the three months ended June 30, 2023, revenue was $2.8 million, all of which was attributable to our collaboration with GBT. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, revenue was $6.3 million, of which $5.7 million was attributable to our collaboration with GBT and $0.6 million was attributable to our collaboration with Incyte.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense decreased by approximately $3.5 million, or 11%, from $33.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 to $29.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, together with the changes to those items in dollars (in thousands):
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Dollar Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
|
||||
External research and development |
|
$ |
16,847 |
|
|
$ |
20,782 |
|
|
$ |
(3,935 |
) |
|
|
(19 |
) |
% |
Employee-related expenses, excluding stock-based compensation |
|
|
7,252 |
|
|
|
7,845 |
|
|
|
(593 |
) |
|
|
(8 |
) |
% |
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
1,384 |
|
|
|
1,433 |
|
|
|
(49 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
% |
Consulting, licensing and professional fees |
|
|
2,450 |
|
|
|
1,088 |
|
|
|
1,362 |
|
|
|
125 |
|
% |
Facilities and other expenses |
|
|
1,675 |
|
|
|
1,952 |
|
|
|
(277 |
) |
|
|
(14 |
) |
% |
Total research and development expenses |
|
$ |
29,608 |
|
|
$ |
33,100 |
|
|
$ |
(3,492 |
) |
|
|
(11 |
) |
% |
37
The decrease in research and development expense was primarily attributable to activities associated with advancing our lead clinical programs, including the following:
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense increased by approximately $0.3 million, or 4%, from $6.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 to $7.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The change in general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to an increase in stock-based compensation, an increase in insurance premiums and an increase in office supplies and software subscription costs.
Interest Income
Interest income was derived generally from our investments in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The increase in interest income during the three months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022 was due to the additional cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities received upon completion of the PIPE Financing and Merger in September 2022, and higher interest rates during the three month period ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was related to our credit facility with Oxford and equipment financing arrangements. Interest expense increased from the three months ended June 30, 2022 to the three months ended June 30, 2023 due to a higher interest rate during the three month period ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability
The change in fair value of warrant liability during the three months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2022 was a result of the remeasurement of the fair value of warrants issued in connection with the September 2022 and December 2020 private placements.
Comparison of six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
38
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, together with the changes in those items in dollars (in thousands):
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Dollar Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
|
||||
Statements of Operations Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Revenue |
|
$ |
5,787 |
|
|
$ |
11,743 |
|
|
$ |
(5,956 |
) |
|
$ |
(51 |
) |
% |
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Research and development |
|
|
58,369 |
|
|
|
58,271 |
|
|
|
98 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
% |
General and administrative |
|
|
14,630 |
|
|
|
13,894 |
|
|
|
736 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
% |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
72,999 |
|
|
|
72,165 |
|
|
|
834 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
% |
Loss from operations |
|
|
(67,212 |
) |
|
|
(60,422 |
) |
|
|
(6,790 |
) |
|
|
11 |
|
% |
Interest income |
|
|
3,900 |
|
|
|
147 |
|
|
|
3,753 |
|
|
|
2,553 |
|
% |
Interest expense |
|
|
(2,495 |
) |
|
|
(1,956 |
) |
|
|
(539 |
) |
|
|
28 |
|
% |
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities |
|
|
5,760 |
|
|
|
2,604 |
|
|
|
3,156 |
|
|
|
121 |
|
% |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(60,047 |
) |
|
$ |
(59,627 |
) |
|
$ |
(420 |
) |
|
$ |
1 |
|
% |
Revenue
For the six months ended June 30, 2023, revenue was $5.8 million, all of which was attributable to our collaboration with GBT. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, revenue was $11.7 million, of which $10.7 million was attributable to our collaboration with GBT and $1.0 million was attributable to our collaboration with Incyte.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense increased by approximately $0.1 million, from $58.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $58.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, together with the changes to those items in dollars (in thousands):
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
|
Dollar Change |
|
|
% Change |
|
|
||||
External research and development |
|
$ |
32,455 |
|
|
$ |
33,881 |
|
|
$ |
(1,426 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
% |
Employee-related expenses, excluding stock-based compensation |
|
|
14,779 |
|
|
|
15,131 |
|
|
|
(352 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
% |
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
2,650 |
|
|
|
2,828 |
|
|
|
(178 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
% |
Consulting, licensing and professional fees |
|
|
4,963 |
|
|
|
2,702 |
|
|
|
2,261 |
|
|
|
84 |
|
% |
Facilities and other expenses |
|
|
3,522 |
|
|
|
3,729 |
|
|
|
(207 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
% |
Total research and development expenses |
|
$ |
58,369 |
|
|
$ |
58,271 |
|
|
$ |
98 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
% |
The change in research and development expense was primarily attributable to activities associated with advancing our lead clinical programs, including the following:
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense increased by approximately $0.7 million, or 5%, from $13.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 to $14.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The change in general and administrative expense was primarily attributable to an increase in recruiting fees, an increase in insurance premiums and an increase in office supplies costs.
39
Interest Income
Interest income was derived generally from our investments in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The increase in interest income during the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022 was due to the additional cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities received upon completion of the PIPE Financing and Merger in September 2022, and higher interest rate during the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was related to our credit facility with Oxford and equipment financing arrangements. Interest expense increased from the six months ended June 30, 2022 to the six months ended June 30, 2023 due to a higher interest rate during the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability
The change in fair value of warrant liability during the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2022 was a result of the remeasurement of the fair value of warrants issued in connection with the September 2022 and December 2020 private placements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
We funded our operations from inception through June 30, 2023, primarily through the issuance of equity securities, through license and collaboration agreements, including those with Incyte and GBT, and through the credit facility with Oxford.
On July 3, 2022, we entered into the Merger Agreement with Tyme. Also on July 3, 2022, immediately prior to the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, we entered into the Securities Purchase Agreement with certain accredited investors.
In connection with the closing of the Merger on September 16, 2022, and in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, we acquired net cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of approximately $67.1 million. The PIPE Financing closed concurrently with the Merger on September 16, 2022, pursuant to which we received aggregate gross proceeds of $129.9 million, before deducting offering expenses payable by us, and not inclusive of any exercise of the warrants issued in the PIPE Financing.
On February 12, 2020, we entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, or the Loan Agreement, with Oxford. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, a term loan of up to an aggregate principal amount of $60.0 million is available to us. A $20.0 million term loan was funded on February 12, 2020, and another $20.0 million term loan was funded on December 23, 2020. On July 3, 2022, we entered into an amendment, or the Loan Amendment, to the Loan Agreement with Oxford. Pursuant to the Loan Amendment, Oxford has agreed to modify the Loan Agreement in order to, among other things, extend the interest only period from March 1, 2023 to March 1, 2024 and extend the maturity date from February 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026, and upon the achievement of certain milestones and subject to the payment of certain fees, further extend the interest only period to September 1, 2024 and maturity date to August 1, 2026. As of June 30, 2023, $20.0 million remains available under the Loan Agreement at the sole discretion of Oxford.
On April 6, 2023, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, or the 2023 Registration Statement, with the SEC to register for sale from time to time up to $250.0 million of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units in one or more registered offerings. The 2023 Registration Statement was declared effective on April 28, 2023. Further, in April 2023, we entered into an at-the-market sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC, or Cowen, pursuant to which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50.0 million through Cowen pursuant to the 2023 Registration Statement.
Upon entry into the 2023 sales agreement, we terminated our prior at-the-market program pursuant to the original sales agreement dated July 12, 2020. At the time of such termination, the entire $75.0 million available under such agreement remained unsold.
40
As of June 30, 2023, $250.0 million of securities remained available for future issuance under the 2023 Registration Statement.
As of June 30, 2023, $50.0 million of our common stock remained available for future issuance under the sales agreement with Cowen.
As of June 30, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of approximately $144.0 million.
Cash Flows
The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30, |
|
|||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
|
||
Net cash (used in) provided by: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating activities |
|
$ |
(59,287 |
) |
|
$ |
(56,195 |
) |
Investing activities |
|
|
7,175 |
|
|
|
23,272 |
|
Financing activities |
|
|
87 |
|
|
|
(315 |
) |
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
$ |
(52,025 |
) |
|
$ |
(33,238 |
) |
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 resulted primarily from our net losses adjusted for non-cash charges and changes in components of working capital.
Net cash used in operating activities was $59.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to $56.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase in net cash used in operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2023 was primarily due to an increase of loss from operations of $6.8 million, partially offset by a decrease in the change of net operating assets of $2.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023.
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities was $7.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to net cash provided by investing activities of $23.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022. The net cash provided by investing activities was primarily due to the maturity of marketable securities of $58.4 million, partially offset by the purchases of marketable securities of $51.0 million, and the purchase of $0.2 million of property and equipment during the six months ended June 30, 2023. The net cash provided by investing activities was due to the maturity of $23.5 million of marketable securities, partially offset by the purchase of $0.2 million of property and equipment during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $0.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the net cash used in financing activities of $0.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was primarily due to the proceeds from issuance of our common stock pursuant to our employee stock purchase plan. In comparison, cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was primarily due to $0.3 million of issuance costs related to the Merger and PIPE Financing, $0.1 million of payments made under our financing lease, offset by $0.1 million of proceeds from issuance of shares of our common stock pursuant to our employee stock purchase plan.
Funding Requirements
We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we continue to advance our clinical trials of tamibarotene, SY-2101 and SY-5609, seek to develop companion diagnostic tests for use with our product candidates, initiate new research and development projects and seek marketing approval for any product candidates that we successfully develop. In addition, if we obtain marketing approval for any of our product candidates, we expect to incur significant commercialization expenses related to establishing sales, marketing, distribution and other commercial infrastructure to commercialize such products. We will need to obtain substantial
41
additional funding in connection with our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on favorable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce, eliminate, or out-license our research and development programs or future commercialization rights to our product candidates.
We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2023, will enable us to fund our planned operating expense and capital expenditure requirements into 2025. Our future funding requirements, both short-term and long-term, will depend on many factors, including:
Identifying potential product candidates and conducting clinical trials is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes many years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval and achieve product sales. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Accordingly, we will need to continue to rely on additional financing to achieve our business objectives. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all.
Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing
42
arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interests of our common stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.
If we raise funds through additional collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates, particularly because our investments, including cash equivalents, are in the form of money market funds and marketable securities and are invested in U.S. treasury or government obligations. However, because of the short-term nature of the duration of our portfolio and the low-risk profile of our investments, we believe an immediate 10% change in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material impact on the fair market value of our investment portfolio or on our financial condition or results of operations.
We are also exposed to market risk related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We contract with vendors that are located in Asia and Europe and certain invoices are denominated in foreign currencies. We are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency rates in connection with these arrangements. We do not currently hedge our foreign currency exchange rate risk. As of June 30, 2023, we did not have significant liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.
Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor and clinical trial costs. We do not believe that inflation had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Management’s Evaluation of our Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, who serves as our Principal Executive Officer, and our Chief Financial Officer, who serves as our Principal Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2023, the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based upon such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of such date.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
43
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The following information updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, or the 2022 10-K. Any of the risk factors contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the 2022 10-K could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results, and such risk factors may not be the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or future results.
Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital
We will need substantial additional funding to execute our operating plan, and if we are unable to raise capital, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or commercialization efforts.
Developing pharmaceutical products, including conducting clinical trials, is a time consuming, expensive and uncertain process. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in connection with our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or any future commercialization efforts.
We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2023 will enable us to fund our planned operating expense and capital expenditure requirements into 2025. Our estimate as to how long we expect our existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities to be able to continue to fund our operations is based on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. Further, changing circumstances, some of which may be beyond our control, could cause us to consume capital significantly faster than we currently anticipate, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned. In any event, our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will not be sufficient to fund all of the efforts that we plan to undertake or to fund the completion of development of all of our product candidates.
Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including those discussed in our 2022 10-K under “We have incurred significant losses since inception, expect to incur significant and increasing losses for at least the next several years, and may never achieve or maintain profitability.” Our future funding requirements may also depend on:
Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our stockholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or product candidates.
We expect our expenses to remain high in connection with our planned operations. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, as we did through a private placement of our securities in September 2022, the ownership interests of our existing stockholders may be substantially diluted, and the terms of these securities could include liquidation or other preferences and anti-dilution protections that could adversely affect our stockholders’ rights. In addition, debt financing, such as our term loan facility
44
with Oxford that we entered into in February 2020, has created fixed payment obligations and imposed restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures, creating liens, redeeming stock or declaring dividends, that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. In addition, securing financing could require a substantial amount of time and attention from our management and may divert a disproportionate amount of their attention away from day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our management’s ability to oversee the development of our product candidates.
If we raise additional funds through collaborations or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. In this regard, we are seeking out-licensing opportunities for the clinical development of SY-5609, we are seeking to out-license our oncology discovery programs, and we intend to seek to out-license our sickle cell disease program following the termination of our collaboration with Pfizer. However, we cannot provide assurance that these transactions will be consummated, or that sufficient additional capital to support the further development of these programs can be obtained or will be obtained on favorable terms.
Risks Related to the Discovery, Development and Commercialization of Product Candidates
We face substantial competition, which may result in others discovering, developing or commercializing products before or more successfully than we do.
We expect that we, and any collaborators, will face significant competition from major pharmaceutical companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies worldwide with respect to any of our product candidates that we, or any collaborators, may seek to develop or commercialize in the future. Specifically, there are a number of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that currently market and sell products or are pursuing the development of product candidates for the treatment of the key indications of our most advanced programs.
For example, we are aware of several new drugs approved by the FDA since 2018 for the treatment of newly diagnosed unfit AML or patient subsets within newly diagnosed unfit AML (including ivosidenib, venetoclax, and glasdegib), and one new drug approved by the FDA in 2020 for the treatment of MDS or patient subsets within MDS (decitabine/cedazuridine). Tamibarotene may also face competition from other agents currently in clinical development for AML and MDS, including those in late-stage development from Gilead Sciences, Inc., Abbvie Inc., Roche Holding AG, Novartis AG, Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pfizer Inc.
SY-2101 may face competition from Trisenox® or any of the generic forms of Trisenox, an IV ATO product approved by the FDA for the treatment of APL. We are also aware of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based formulation of oral arsenic commercially available in China. In addition, we are aware of an oral formulation of ATO in clinical development by Phebra Pty Ltd, or Phebra, an Australian based specialty pharmaceutical group. Phebra has entered into an agreement with Medsenic SAS, a European biopharmaceutical company, for the investigation of their oral ATO compound for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. We are also aware of an oral formulation of ATO being studied in an academic setting in Hong Kong.
In addition, we are aware of selective CDK7 inhibitors being developed in clinical trials by Carrick Therapeutics Ltd., Exelixis, Inc., Qurient Co. Ltd. and a collaboration between Exscientia Ltd. and GT Apeiron Therapeutics Ltd., as well as other selective CDK7 inhibitor programs that we believe are in preclinical development from Yungjin Pharma Co., Ltd., The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Applied Pharmaceutical Science, Inc., Kirilys Therapeutics, Inc., TYK Medicines, Inc., and Evopoint Biosciences Co., Ltd. focused on developing novel cyclin-dependent kinase, or CDK, inhibitors, including selective CDK7 inhibitors. SY-5609 may face competition from these CDK7 inhibitors. There is also significant competition from products with mechanisms other than CDK7 inhibition in pancreatic cancer and BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer, the disease areas where we have focused our development of SY-5609.
Our competitors may succeed in developing, acquiring or licensing technologies and products that are more effective, have fewer side effects or more tolerable side effects, have greater ease of access, or are less costly than any product candidates that we are currently developing or that we may develop, which could render our product candidates obsolete and noncompetitive. For example, the evolving standard of care for the treatment of patients with AML and the
45
response rates and duration of response seen with approved and investigational agents in this disease may result in a longer and more complex clinical development path for tamibarotene, which in turn will impact the potential return on investments in clinical trials of tamibarotene. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other marketing approval for their products before we, or any collaborators, are able to obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we, or any collaborators, are able to enter the market.
Many of our existing and potential future competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining marketing approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, the development of our product candidates.
Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties
To the extent that we enter into collaborations with third parties for the development and commercialization of any product candidates, our prospects with respect to those product candidates will depend in significant part on the success of those collaborations.
We expect to enter into collaborations for the development and commercialization of one or more product candidates we may develop, as we have with GBT to develop novel therapies for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia and with Incyte to identify new drug targets in the field of myeloproliferative neoplasms. To the extent we enter into such collaborations, we will have limited control over the amount and timing of resources that our collaborators will dedicate to the development or commercialization of our product candidates. Our ability to generate revenues from these arrangements will depend on any collaborators' abilities to successfully perform the functions assigned to them in these arrangements. In addition, collaborators may have the right to abandon research or development projects and terminate applicable agreements, including funding obligations, prior to or upon the expiration of the agreed upon terms.
Collaborations involving our product candidates pose a number of risks, including the following:
46
Collaboration agreements may not lead to development or commercialization of product candidates in the most efficient manner or at all. If any collaborator of ours is involved in a business combination, it could decide to delay, diminish or terminate the development or commercialization of any product candidate licensed to it by us. For example, Pfizer, as successor to GBT, exercised its right to terminate our collaboration agreement effective October 16, 2023. While we intend to seek to out-license our sickle-cell disease program following the termination of this collaboration agreement, we may not succeed in doing so on commercially reasonable terms.
We are currently seeking, and we expect to continue to seek, to establish additional collaborations and, if we are not able to establish them on commercially reasonable terms, we may have to alter our development and commercialization plans.
We are currently seeking, and we expect to continue to seek, to establish one or more additional collaborators for the development and commercialization of one or more of our product candidates or to validate targets. Likely collaborators may include large and mid-size pharmaceutical companies, regional and national pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies. In addition, if we are able to obtain marketing approval for product candidates from foreign regulatory authorities, we intend to enter into strategic relationships with international biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies for the commercialization of such product candidates outside of the United States.
We face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators. Whether we reach a definitive agreement for a collaboration will depend, among other things, upon our assessment of the collaborator's resources and expertise, the terms and conditions of the proposed collaboration, and the proposed collaborator's evaluation of a number of factors. Those factors may include the potential differentiation of our product candidates from competing product candidates, design or results of clinical trials, the likelihood of approval by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities and the regulatory pathway for any such approval, the potential market for the product candidate, the costs and complexities of manufacturing and delivering the product to patients and the potential of competing products. The collaborator may also consider alternative product candidates or technologies for similar indications that may be available for collaboration and whether such a collaboration could be more attractive than the one with us for our product candidate.
We may not be able to negotiate new collaborations on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to do so, we may have to curtail the development of the product candidate for which we are seeking to collaborate, reduce or delay our development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay our potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our expenditures and undertake development or commercialization activities at our own expense.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
|
Description of Exhibit |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
47
3.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
31.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
32.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
101.INS |
|
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
|
|
|
101.SCH |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
|
|
|
101.CAL |
|
Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document |
|
|
|
101.DEF |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
|
|
|
101.LAB |
|
Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document |
|
|
|
101.PRE |
|
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document |
|
|
|
104 |
|
Cover Page Interactive Data (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) |
|
|
|
48
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
Date: August 8, 2023 |
|
By: |
|
/s/ Jason Haas |
|
|
|
|
Jason Haas |
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
49