Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.22.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and are comprised of the accounts of CymaBay and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has no unconsolidated subsidiaries or investments accounted for under the equity method.
These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), which requires management to make informed estimates and assumptions that impact the amounts and disclosures reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, and the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. GAAP can be condensed or omitted.
In management’s opinion, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and include normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and its results of operations and comprehensive loss and its cash flows for the periods presented. These statements do not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and accompanying notes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which is contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K
as filed with the SEC on March 17, 2022. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2022 or future operating periods.
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts and disclosures reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The estimation process often may yield a range of potentially reasonable estimates of the ultimate future outcomes, and management must select an amount that falls within that range of reasonable estimates. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities when these values are not readily apparent from other sources. Estimates are assessed each reporting period and updated to reflect current information and any changes in estimates will generally be reflected in the period first identified.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments during the periods reported consist of cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts payable, certain accrued liabilities, and the development financing liability.
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value are reported using a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs and is as follows:
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2—Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3—Inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement and are unobservable (i.e. supported by little market activity), which requires the reporting entity to develop its own valuation techniques and assumptions.
The carrying amounts of cash, accounts payable, and certain accrued liabilities approximate their related fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Cash is classified as level 1 and accounts payable and accrued liabilities as level 2 under the fair value hierarchy.
The following tables present the Company’s financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using the above input categories (in thousands):
 
 
  
As of March 31, 2022
 
 
  
Level 1
 
  
Level 2
 
  
Level 3
 
  
Total
 
Assets:
                                   
Cash equivalents:
                                   
Money market funds
   $ 34,808      $ —        $ —        $ 34,808  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total cash equivalents
     34,808        —          —          34,808  
Marketable securities:
                                   
U.S. and foreign commercial paper
     —          31,275        —          31,275  
U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities
     —          35,805        —          35,805  
Supranational debt securities
     —          4,518        —          4,518  
U.S. treasury securities
     —          47,851        —          47,851  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total marketable securities
     —          119,449        —          119,449  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total assets measured at fair value
   $ 34,808      $ 119,449      $ —        $ 154,257  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
  
As of December 31, 2021
 
 
  
Level 1
 
  
Level 2
 
  
Level 3
 
  
Total
 
Cash equivalents:
  
  
  
  
Money market funds
   $ 85,638      $ —        $ —        $ 85,638  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total cash equivalents
     85,638        —          —          85,638  
Marketable securities:
                                   
U.S. and foreign commercial paper
     —          28,760        —          28,760  
U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities
     —          23,535        —          23,535  
Asset-backed securities
     —          8,522        —          8,522  
U.S. treasury securities
     —          7,979        —          7,979  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total marketable securities
     —          68,796        —          68,796  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
Total assets measured at fair value
   $ 85,638      $ 68,796      $ —        $ 154,434  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
 
The Company estimates the fair value of its money market funds, corporate debt, asset-backed securities, commercial paper, U.S. treasury securities, and supranational debt securities by taking into consideration valuations obtained from third-party pricing services. The pricing services utilize industry standard valuation models, including both income and market-based approaches, for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, to estimate fair value. These inputs include reported trades of and broker/dealer quotes on the same or similar securities, issuer credit spreads, benchmark securities, prepayment/default projections based on historical data, and other observable inputs.
The fair value of the Company’s development financing liability is consistent with its carrying value of $78.7 million, which is recorded at amortized cost. The development financing liability is classified as level 3 under the fair value hierarchy as its valuation is based on a discounted cash flow model that uses unobservable inputs such as the estimated timing of regulatory approval and attainment of certain sales milestones.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of deposits with commercial banks in checking, interest-bearing, and money market funds.
The Company invests excess cash in marketable securities with high credit ratings. These securities consist primarily of corporate debt, commercial paper, asset-backed securities, U.S. treasury securities, and supranational debt securities and are classified as
“available-for-sale.”
The Company considers marketable securities as short-term investments if the maturity date is less than or equal to one year from the balance sheet date. The Company considers marketable securities as long-term investments if the maturity date is in excess of one year from the balance sheet date.
 
Realized gains and losses from the sale of marketable securities, if any, are calculated using the specific-identification method. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary are included in interest income or expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Unrealized holding gains and losses are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. To date, the Company has not recorded any impairment charges on its marketable securities related to other-than-temporary declines in market value. In determining whether a decline in market value is other-than-temporary, various factors are considered, including the cause, duration of time and severity of the impairment, any adverse changes in the investees’ financial condition, and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for an anticipated recovery in market value.
Unrealized gains and losses of the Company’s
available-for-sale
marketable securities as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were not material.
The following table shows the fair value of the Company’s marketable securities, by contractual maturity, as of March 31, 2022 (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Due less than 1 year
   $ 114,564  
Due between 1 and 2 years
     4,885  
    
 
 
 
Total fair value
   $ 119,449  
    
 
 
 
Concentration of Risk
Concentration of Risk
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities consist of financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk to the extent of the fair value recorded on the balance sheet. The Company invests cash that is not required for immediate operating needs primarily in highly liquid instruments that bear minimal risk. The Company has established guidelines relating to the quality, diversification, and maturities of securities to enable the Company to manage its credit risk. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of a default by the financial institutions holding its cash, cash equivalents and investments and issuers of investments to the extent recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Certain materials and key components that the Company utilizes in its operations are obtained through single suppliers. Since the suppliers of key components and materials must be named in a new drug application NDA filed with the FDA for a product, significant delays can occur if the qualification of a new supplier is required. If delivery of material from the Company’s suppliers were interrupted for any reason, the Company may be unable to supply any of its product candidates for clinical trials.
Other Risks and Uncertainties
Other Risks and Uncertainties
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the global novel coronavirus disease
(COVID-19)
outbreak a pandemic. To date, the Company’s operations have not been significantly impacted by the
COVID-19
outbreak. However, the Company continues to monitor potential risks and uncertainties associated with operating its business during the pandemic. These risks include, but are not limited to, ongoing government advisories and restrictions on travel and workplace access, workforce shortages, and global supply chain delays, all of which could potentially impact the Company’s ability to conduct its critical drug development and regulatory compliance activities. The Company cannot predict the specific extent, duration, or full impact that the
COVID-19
outbreak will have on its consolidated financial condition and operations. The impact of the
COVID-19
coronavirus outbreak on the financial performance of the Company will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and related governmental advisories and restrictions. These developments and the impact of
COVID-19
on the financial markets and the overall economy are highly uncertain. If the financial markets and/or the overall economy are impacted for an extended period, the Company’s results may be adversely affected.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred in identifying, developing, and testing product candidates. These expenses consist primarily of costs for research and development personnel, including related stock-based compensation; contract research organizations (CRO) and other third parties that assist in managing, monitoring, and analyzing clinical trials; investigator and site fees; laboratory services; consultants; contract manufacturing services;
non-clinical
studies, including materials; and allocated expenses, such as depreciation of assets, and facilities and information technology that support research and development activities. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred, including expenses that may or may not be reimbursed under research and development funding arrangements. Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in research and development are recorded as prepaid assets until the goods are received or services are rendered. Such payments are evaluated for current or long-term classification based on when they will be realized. Additionally, if expectations change such that the Company does not expect goods to be delivered or services to be rendered, such prepayments are charged to expense.
 
The Company records expenses related to clinical studies and manufacturing development activities based on its estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple CROs and manufacturing vendors that conduct and manage these activities on its behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract, and may result in uneven payment flows. There may be instances in which payments made to the Company’s vendors will exceed the level of services provided and result in a prepayment. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of subjects and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In amortizing or accruing service fees, the Company estimates the time period over which services will be performed, enrollment of subjects, number of sites activated and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the Company’s estimate, the Company will adjust the accrued or prepaid expense balance accordingly. To date, there have been no material differences from the Company’s estimates to the amounts actually incurred.
Development Financing Agreement
Development Financing Agreement
The Company accounts for the Financing Agreement (see Note 4) as a debt instrument. Accordingly, the Company has recorded payments received under the Financing Agreement as part of a development financing liability in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The liability is recorded at amortized cost and accreted to the contractual success fee amounts based on the estimated timing of regulatory approval and attainment of certain sales milestones using an imputed interest rate. Certain transaction fees incurred specifically to complete the Financing Agreement were capitalized and recorded as a reduction to the carrying amount of the development financing liability and are being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest rate method.
There are several factors that could affect the estimated timing of regulatory approval and attainment of sales milestones, some of which are not entirely within the Company’s control. Therefore, the Company periodically reassesses the estimated timing of regulatory approval and attainment of sales milestones, and the expected contractual success fee payments due therefrom. If the timing and/or amount of such expected payments is materially different than original estimates, the Company will prospectively adjust the accretion of the development financing liability and the imputed interest rate.
The Company identified certain contingent repayment features in the Financing Agreement that are required to be bifurcated from the debt host instrument as embedded derivative liabilities; however, the Company determined the fair value of these features, both individually and in the aggregate, was immaterial at inception and as of March 31, 2022. The fair value of these features will be assessed at each reporting date and will be marked to market, if material. To determine the amount to record for the embedded derivative liabilities, the Company must assess the probability of occurrence of various potential future events that could affect the timing and/or amount of future cash flows related to the Financing Agreement.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-based compensation is measured at fair value on the grant date of the award. Compensation cost is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for options with service conditions, and forfeitures are accounted for as they occur. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock option awards. The determination of fair value for stock-based awards using an option-pricing model requires management to make certain assumptions regarding subjective input variables such as expected term, dividends, volatility and risk-free rate. If actual results are not consistent with the Company’s assumptions and judgments used in making these estimates, the Company may be required to increase or decrease compensation expense, which could be material to the Company’s results of operations.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
ASU
2020-06
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU
2020-06,
Debt—
Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic
470-20)
and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic
815-40):
Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity
, which amends the guidance for accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. The new guidance simplifies aspects of the accounting for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock by limiting the number of accounting models, which results in fewer embedded conversion features being separately recognized from the host contract as compared with previous GAAP. The guidance is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2024, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
 
ASU
2016-13
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU
No. 2016-13,
Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326):
Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
, an amendment which modifies the measurement and recognition of credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments. The amendment updates the guidance for measuring and recording credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost by replacing the “incurred loss” model with an “expected loss” model. Accordingly, these financial assets will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The amendment also requires that credit losses related to
available-for-sale
debt securities be recorded as an allowance through net income rather than reducing the carrying amount under the current, other-than-temporary-impairment model. In November 2019, FASB issued ASU
No. 2019-10,
Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) and Leases (Topic 842), which deferred the adoption deadline for smaller reporting companies to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, and entities are required to use a modified retrospective approach, with certain exceptions. The Company is currently assessing this standard and does not anticipate a material impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.