UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD
FROM TO
Commission File Number 001-38792
Alector, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
001-38792
(Commission File Number)
82-2933343
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
131 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 600
South San Francisco, California 94080
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(415) 231-5660
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of each class
Common Stock
Trading Symbol
ALEC
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The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
(The Nasdaq Global Select Market)
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The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2023 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal
quarter) was approximately $383.8 million, based on the closing price of the registrant’s common stock, as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 30, 2023 of $6.01 per share.
The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of February 22, 2024 was 95,749,259.
Portions of the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement relating to the registrant’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form
10-K where indicated. Such Definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the registrant’s 2023 fiscal year ended
December 31, 2023.
Alector, Inc.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Business
Risk Factors
PART I
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Cybersecurity
Item 1C.
Properties
Item 2.
Legal Proceedings
Item 3.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 4.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
[Reserved]
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
PART II
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 8.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Item 9B. Other Information
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
PART III
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 16.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
Form 10-K Summary
Signatures
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this
Annual Report, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, product candidates, planned
preclinical studies and clinical trials, results of clinical trials, research and development costs, regulatory approvals, timing and likelihood of success, as
well as plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other important factors that are in some cases beyond our control and may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,”
“could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other
similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this report include, but are not limited to, statements about:
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our plans relating to the development and manufacturing of our product candidates and research programs, including additional indications
that we may pursue;
the ability of our clinical trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy of our product candidates, and other positive results;
the beneficial characteristics, safety, efficacy, and therapeutic effects of our product candidates;
the expected potential benefits of strategic collaborations with third parties and our ability to attract collaborators with development,
regulatory and commercialization expertise;
our estimates of the number of patients in the United States and the European Union who suffer from the diseases we are targeting and the
number of patients that will enroll in our clinical trials;
the timing and focus of our future clinical trials, and the reporting of data from those trials;
our plans relating to commercializing our product candidates, if approved, including the geographic areas of focus and sales strategy;
the size of the market opportunity for our product candidates in each of the diseases we are targeting;
our ability to expand our product candidates into additional indications and patient populations;
the success of competing therapies that are or may become available;
the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, including our expectation to seek special designations, such as orphan drug
designation, for our product candidates for various diseases;
our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates;
existing regulations and regulatory developments in the United States and other jurisdictions;
our continued reliance on third parties to conduct clinical trials of our product candidates, and for the manufacture of our product candidates
for preclinical studies and clinical trials;
our plans and ability to obtain or protect intellectual property rights, including extensions of existing patent terms where available;
the need to hire additional personnel and our ability to attract and retain such personnel, especially in light of a competitive hiring and
compensation environment;
the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, and additional financing needs;
our financial performance, including potential volatility in our stock price;
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the impact of worldwide economic conditions, including macroeconomic downturns stemming from increased inflation, supply chain and
other economic impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and geopolitical events, on our business;
the effects of inflation; and
the sufficiency of our existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities to fund our future operating expenses and capital expenditure
requirements.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about our business, the industry in which we
operate and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, and these forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance or development. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report and are
subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report. Because forward-
looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-
looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur
and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, or otherwise.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based
upon information available to us as of the date of this 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 statements are inherently uncertain, and you are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
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Item 1. Business.
Overview
PART I
Our mission is to develop therapies that empower the immune system to cure neurodegeneration and other diseases.
We are a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegeneration.
Immuno-neurology targets immune dysfunction as a root cause of multiple pathologies that are drivers of degenerative brain disorders. We are developing
therapies designed to counteract these pathologies simultaneously by restoring healthy immune function to the brain. Supporting our scientific approach,
our research and drug discovery platform enables us to identify targets and advance a broad portfolio of product candidates, validated by human genetics,
which we believe may improve the probability of technical success over shorter development timelines. Three product candidates, latozinemab (also
referred to as AL001), AL002, and AL101, are in clinical development. We continue to develop our preclinical and research pipeline, and we are
developing our proprietary blood brain barrier technology (Alector Brain Carrier) to potentially apply to next generation product candidates. We are
focusing our development resources on latozinemab in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and AL002 and AL101 in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We are
advancing our clinical product candidates and research pipeline with our existing resources and in collaboration with our partners, Glaxo Wellcome UK
Limited, a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and AbbVie Biotechnology, Ltd. (AbbVie).
In July 2021, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with GSK (GSK Agreement) to collaborate on the global development and
commercialization of progranulin-elevating monoclonal antibodies, including latozinemab and AL101.
Latozinemab modulates progranulin (PGRN), a key regulator of immune activity in the brain with genetic links to multiple neurodegenerative
disorders. Latozinemab is in development as a potential treatment for FTD, a severe, rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disorder that affects 50,000 to
60,000 people in the United States and approximately 110,000 people in the European Union.
Latozinemab is currently being studied in a global pivotal Phase 3 trial, INFRONT-3, for the potential treatment of adults at risk for or with
symptomatic FTD due to mutation in the progranulin gene (FTD-GRN). In 2023, we and GSK held a Type C meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and received scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) regarding the pivotal INFRONT-3 Phase 3 clinical trial
of latozinemab in participants with frontotemporal dementia due to FTD-GRN. We and GSK previously aligned with the FDA and EMA to conduct the
primary analysis on symptomatic participants in INFRONT-3. The companies performed a sample size re-estimation that supported enrollment of
approximately 90-100 symptomatic participants for a treatment duration of 96 weeks. In October 2023, we achieved target enrollment in INFRONT-3 with
103 symptomatic and 16 at-risk participants enrolled. Target enrollment was based on feedback from the FDA and EMA. Enrollment completion is subject
to revised protocol approval in countries outside the United States. In February 2024, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to latozinemab
for the treatment of FTD-GRN. The FDA's Breakthrough Therapy Designation is granted to expedite the development and review of drugs in the United
States that are intended to treat a serious condition, when preliminary clinical evidence indicates the drug or vaccine may demonstrate substantial
improvement over available therapy on clinically significant endpoint(s). In prior clinical studies in FTD-GRN patients, latozinemab demonstrated
elevation of progranulin levels to the normal range and early signals of exploratory biomarker and clinical activity. Latozinemab has been well tolerated in
healthy volunteers and FTD-GRN and FTD-C9orf72 patients in our Phase 1a and Phase 1b clinical trials, and in our open label Phase 2 clinical trial.
AL101, the second product candidate in our PGRN portfolio, is designed to elevate progranulin levels, similar to latozinemab, and is currently being
investigated for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and potentially other indications, including Parkinson's disease. In May 2023, we and GSK
amended the GSK Agreement (the GSK Amendment). Under the terms of the GSK Amendment, we are responsible for funding and sharing in GSK’s and
our development costs up to $140.5 million for the conduct of the initial Phase 2 trial of AL101 in AD. In August 2023, GSK received FDA clearance of
the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for AL101 in the treatment of early AD. In February 2024, GSK dosed the first participant in the
PROGRESS-AD global Phase 2 clinical trial of AL101/GSK4527226 in early AD.
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Our AL002 product candidate targets Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) to increase the functionality of TREM2 signaling
and enhance microglia cell activation. We are currently developing AL002 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in collaboration with AbbVie.
In January 2023, the first patient was enrolled and dosed in a long-term extension (LTE) of our INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial. In February 2023,
we and AbbVie amended the AbbVie agreement (the AbbVie Amendment), which resulted in our receiving a $17.8 million milestone payment in March
2023 for the dosing of the first patient in the LTE trial. Under the terms of the AbbVie Amendment, we were eligible to earn up to an additional $12.5
million to support the enrollment of additional patients in the ongoing INVOKE-2 trial to replace discontinuations and we received the total of $12.5
million in 2023. We completed enrollment of 381 patients in the INVOKE-2 clinical trial in the third quarter of 2023, with data expected in the fourth
quarter of 2024.
As part of our efforts to advance our programs through clinical development and execute on the strategic approach outlined in the section titled
“Business – Our Strategy,” Alector from time to time may execute partnerships with other biopharmaceutical companies. To date we have two active
licensing, co-commercialization, or co-development agreements for certain programs in our pipeline.
The Immune System is Central to Neurodegeneration
The loss of healthy immune function in the brain, due to cellular aging or mutations of genes that regulate key immune cells, underlies the onset and
progression of multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Genomic analyses have shown that there is a strong correlation between genetic mutations that
predispose individuals to neurodegeneration and dysfunction in the immune system. As a result of these genetic mutations, the brain’s immune function
deteriorates and subsequently would fail to carry out critical activities, which include:
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clearing or counteracting pathological neurodegenerative proteins such as amyloid beta, tau, alpha-synuclein, and TDP-43;
providing metabolic and functional support to nerve cells;
regulating synaptic connections;
protecting nerve cells by stimulating the regeneration of myelin sheaths around nerve fibers; and
controlling the neurotoxic activities of activated astrocytes and rogue microglia.
We believe that restoring the immune system’s ability to perform all of these vital functions in the brain is crucial to addressing neurodegeneration
given that past approaches focusing on single degenerative pathologies have had limited or no impact on disease progression.
The brain’s immune system undergoes gradual deterioration of its functionality as part of normal biological aging or due to harmful genetic
mutations that are linked to neurodegeneration and are associated with accelerated senescence of the brain immune cells. Based on our understanding of the
role of genetic mutations in neurodegeneration, we have designed our product candidates to target the mutated genes linked to neurodegeneration, with the
goal of slowing or reversing the deterioration of the brain’s immune cells to achieve therapeutic benefit. By restoring healthy immune function in the brain,
we believe we can simultaneously counteract the multiple independent pathologies responsible for neurodegeneration.
Our Strategy
Our goal is to develop therapies that harness the immune system to combat neurodegenerative diseases. The key tenets of our business strategy to
achieve this goal include:
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Building a leading, fully-integrated company focused on delivering innovative immunotherapies, validated by human genetics, for the
treatment of neurodegeneration. We believe that building a fully integrated research, development, and ultimately commercial company
will enable us to develop therapies more rapidly and efficiently for patients and realize the full potential of our immuno-neurology approach
and discovery capabilities.
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Applying our proprietary capabilities to rapidly advance our product candidates through clinical proof-of-concept studies and beyond.
We are focused on maximizing the probability of success of our product candidates by leveraging immunology, neurobiology, and human
genetics, as well as our state-of-the-art bioinformatics, to enable better and earlier target selection. In addition, we are also focused on a
biomarker-driven approach, including proprietary tools and assays, to confirm target engagement, inform patient selection, and follow
clinical outcomes.
• Maximizing the therapeutic potential of our targets and product candidates. Given the central physiological roles played by the distinct
targets of our product candidates, we believe that there is significant potential for us to address multiple indications with single targets. Our
goal is to expand the therapeutic and commercial potential of our targets and product candidates to additional indications. We will remain
disciplined about advancing this strategy, leveraging our discovery capabilities to inform expansion areas of maximum value and highest
probability of success.
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Continuing to focus on discovering new targets and product candidates, validated by human genetics, to fulfill the full potential of our
insights and platform. Our discovery capabilities are central to our efforts to rapidly identify new product candidates with compelling
clinical promise. We will continue to invest in our research and discovery efforts, including evolving our proprietary analytical tools and
assays, to validate our identified immune system targets and generate additional targets and product candidates.
Our Approach
The Role of the Innate Immune System and Microglia in Neurodegeneration
Significant evidence in the last decade has shown that neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, FTD, and
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are linked to a dysfunctional brain immune system. In contrast to the dual adaptive and innate components that
characterize the broader human immune system, the brain’s immune system consists primarily of innate immune cells, known as microglia. These brain
resident macrophages account for 10% to 15% of all cells found within the brain and are responsible for many aspects of brain health and maintenance. As
the key innate immune cells in the brain, microglia respond to infection and damage, clear cell debris and pathological proteins, nurture neurons and the
brain support cells, and control the number and functionality of inter-neuronal connections. Microglia have been our focus and new scientific advances
have made it possible to understand how these key innate immune cells in the brain represent a crucial focal point for potentially treating or preventing
neurodegenerative diseases.
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Figure 1. Our clinical stage neurodegenerative disease programs pathways
Significant Scientific Data Support Our Hypothesis
Understanding how the brain’s immune cells affect its structure and function, in both normal and diseased states, is in our view, the key to
understanding many neurological diseases. Human genetic evidence has supported the importance of the interactions between the brain and the innate
immune system. For example, most of the top risk genes for Alzheimer’s disease, identified using genetic linkage studies, candidate gene analysis, genome-
wide association studies (GWAS), and whole-genome or whole-exome sequencing, regulate immune function in the brain. Many of these risk genes have
been shown to express predominantly in microglia and to control the function of these cells.
Microglia have been shown to be key cells in overall brain maintenance, health, and function and are the brain’s first line of immune defense. These
innate immune cells are tooled with “microglial sensomes” which enable them to constantly survey brain cells to identify and respond to subtle signs of
pathology or dysfunction. Microglia scavenge the brain for toxic misfolded proteins, cell debris, damaged or unnecessary nerve cells, dysfunctional or aged
synapses, and infectious agents. In addition, microglia support the generation of new neurons and synapses and remodel neuronal circuits. Microglia also
control the survival and function of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, the main brain support cells which control brain metabolism and blood supply and
replenish aged or damaged nerve fibers after injury. Further, microglia have been shown to modulate the permeability of the blood brain barrier allowing
peripheral immune cells to access the brain and assist against infection or injury. Microglia can also change their morphology, functionality, and number in
response to changing brain environment.
Analysis of gene transcription at the single-cell level in microglia from normal and diseased brains revealed that multiple microglia subtypes exist
which may respond to specific disease pathologies in the brain. Our product candidates are designed to recruit microglia subtypes by targeting microglia
check-point proteins that control their survival, proliferation, migration, and function. This allows us to differentially modulate microglia activity as needed
to counteract a given degenerative brain disorder.
Findings in the fields of human genetics, immunology, and neuroscience have indicated that as a result of normal aging or genetic mutations, the
beneficial functions of the microglia deteriorate leading to dysfunction of neuronal connections, massive death of neurons, and neurodegeneration.
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We believe our therapies that focus on harnessing the power of microglia may improve neurodegenerative disease outcomes either as standalone
therapies or in combination with anti-amyloid beta targeted therapies. Anti-amyloid beta antibodies mark misfolded aggregates and recruit microglia to
remove them. Our therapies, including those in our progranulin franchise, are expected to enhance microglia’s ability to remove misfolded proteins in
conjunction with anti-amyloid beta antibodies that tag these proteins.
Figure 2. Our checkpoint therapies are anticipated to act independently and in combination
Our Research and Discovery Platform
Our research and drug discovery platform leverages human genetic datasets, advanced tools in bioinformatics and imaging, and insights in
neurodegeneration and immunology to: (1) identify immune system targets that play a critical role in the development of multiple neurodegenerative
diseases, and rapidly develop antibody therapeutics to these targets, (2) interrogate and prioritize those targets for activity using biomarkers and related
proprietary assays and preclinical models, and (3) clinically test product candidates, including in genetically defined patient populations that may be most
likely to respond to treatment. We believe that these platform capabilities provide us with the tools to solve the conceptual and technical challenges
associated with development of drug candidates for neurodegeneration.
We rely on proprietary immuno-neurology bioinformatics algorithms and methodologies to analyze large genetic datasets from diseased and healthy
individuals, brain-based gene expression profiling and proteomics, and human pathology. These proprietary capabilities allow us to rapidly identify
tractable targets, pharmacodynamic biomarkers, and patient populations associated with aberrant immune function which lead to neurodegeneration.
Specifically, the priorities of our platform efforts are:
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Target Selection. Our target selection capabilities address a wide array of factors that we believe inform efficient, optimized therapeutic
outcomes, including genetic and mechanistic rationale. We leverage our bioinformatics expertise to identify genetic mutations in the brain
immune system that we believe increase the risk of disease onset and progression. We combine our bioinformatic approaches with in-house
functional genomics to discover and validate genetic mutations and targets of interest. We utilize state of the art techniques such as CRISPR
Activation and Inhibition, single cell transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microscopic and biochemical readouts in relevant in vitro
systems such as hiPSC microglia and in vivo systems such as mouse/rat models to elucidate the immune dysfunction caused by these
mutations. We then seek to engineer immune modulating antibody product candidates to functionally counteract the harmful consequence
of these genetic mutations. We leverage in vitro and in vivo functional tools to validate the activity of our product candidates and their
ability to cross the blood brain barrier enough to be therapeutically effective.
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Biomarker Selection. We are able to identify and employ molecular biomarkers, assays, and imaging techniques that are tailored to our
product candidates to confirm target engagement and quantify their impact, allowing us to potentially interpret the clinical impact of our
compounds earlier than would be expected using traditional clinical measures.
Patient Selection. We utilize genetic screening and biomarkers in certain orphan disease programs to better align a patient’s specific
diagnosis with the targeted intervention in our clinical studies.
Biologics Discovery. We pursue a comprehensive antibody discovery strategy using in vivo (multiple species, hybridoma and single B cell
technology) and in vitro directed evolution (phage and yeast display) approaches. We leverage our advanced antibody engineering
capabilities to design and optimize biotherapeutics.
We employ gene expression profiling, proteomics, brain imaging, and data on disease pathology as well as our own preclinical and clinical data to
continually refine our proprietary immuno-neurology algorithms and methodologies. Using our drug discovery platform capabilities to identify targets that
are validated by human genetics, disease biomarkers, and responsive patient populations, we believe that we are positioned for greater probability of
technical success on more efficient timelines relative to historical drug development in neurodegeneration.
Proprietary Blood Brain Barrier Technology
We are developing our proprietary blood brain barrier (BBB) technology as a platform to support selected next-generation product candidates. We
refer to our BBB technology as “ABC,” for “Alector Brain Carrier.” The goal of our technology is to deliver therapeutic antibodies and proteins at a lower
dose and provide deeper blood brain barrier penetration while maintaining efficacy and decreasing costs.
Our Pipeline Programs
Figure 3. The following table highlights our clinical programs, preclinical and research programs, BBB technologies, and IP portfolio.
Our clinical programs include latozinemab, AL101, and AL002. In addition, we continue to pursue a number of preclinical and research programs in
our pipeline for indications including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
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Our Progranulin Program
Our first development program is focused on modulating levels of PGRN, a key regulator of microglia function in the brain with strong genetic links
to FTD and other neurodegenerative disorders. Individuals carry two copies of the GRN gene that function together to produce healthy levels of PGRN
throughout the body. Mutations in both copies of the GRN gene, resulting in homozygous loss-of-function, lead to a neurodegenerative disease called
neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, which is typified by childhood dementia, vision loss, epilepsy, and death. Mutations in a single copy of the GRN gene result
in a drop of between 50% and 70% in the level of PGRN and consequently lead to development of FTD with about 90% penetrance by 75 years of age.
Moreover, large scale human genetic studies suggest that regulatory mutations in GRN, the gene encoding PGRN, can increase the risk for Alzheimer’s
disease and Parkinson’s disease, making GRN a risk gene for these disorders as well.
Healthy levels of PGRN are associated with many cellular processes that include normal microglial activities, neuronal survival, and lysosome
function. PGRN deficiency disrupts microglia-neuronal homeostasis in the brain and promotes neurodegeneration through the release of cytotoxic
cytokines and complement factors by dysfunctional microglia. Moreover, these microglia activate astrocytes, which in turn, damage neurons. Thus, lack of
PGRN leads to disrupted health and function of both neurons and microglia and if not corrected, leads to rapid neurodegeneration.
Figure 4. PGRN deficiency disrupts homeostasis between microglia and neurons and promotes neurodegeneration during aging.
SORT1 Controls PGRN Levels in the Body
Human and mouse genetic studies have identified the PGRN degrading receptor Sortilin (SORT1) as a major negative regulator of PGRN
levels in plasma and the brain. SORT1 is a sorting receptor on the cell surface and on the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi apparatus within the cell.
SORT1 binds to extracellular PGRN in the plasma and brain and transports it into cells for degradation by the lysosome resulting in decreasing
levels of extracellular PGRN. SORT1 deficiency increases PGRN plasma and brain levels by two to three-fold in mouse models, while variants that
modestly reduce expression of SORT1 increase the level of PGRN in humans.
Moreover, genetic loss of SORT1 in mice does not lead to the adverse effects associated with genetic loss of PGRN, and PGRN continues to carry
out its neurotrophic functions as expected in the absence of SORT1. These studies and others have indicated to us that blocking SORT1 with a
pharmacological agent could be a safe and effective approach in increasing the level of functional PGRN in the brain.
We have developed two distinct product candidates that target SORT1, latozinemab and AL101, designed to increase PGRN levels in the brain of
patients to counteract the damage sustained due to low PGRN levels in neurodegenerative disorders. Our first product candidate, latozinemab, is intended
to treat orphan disorders, including genetic forms of FTD such as in patients that are missing a functional copy of the GRN gene (FTD-GRN). Our second
PGRN product candidate, AL101, is intended to treat widely prevalent neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
We have partnered with GSK to develop and commercialize our
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PGRN product candidates. For more information on our collaboration with GSK see the section titled “Business—Strategic Alliance with GSK.”
Latozinemab received orphan drug designation from the FDA for the treatment of FTD, as well as Fast Track designation and Breakthrough
Therapy designation for the treatment of patients with FTD-GRN. Generally, if a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first
FDA approval for a particular active ingredient for the disease for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity. This
means that the FDA may not approve any other new drug application (NDA) or biologics license application (BLA) application to market the same drug or
biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances such as a showing of clinical superiority to the product with orphan
exclusivity, if FDA revokes the orphan drug designation, or if FDA finds that the holder of the orphan exclusivity has not assured the availability of
sufficient quantities of the orphan product to meet the needs of patients with the disease or condition for which the drug was designated. Even though the
FDA has approved orphan drug status for latozinemab for treatment of FTD, the FDA can still approve other drugs that have a different active ingredient
for use in treating FTD. Furthermore, orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent the FDA from approving another marketing application for the same drug
product for a different indication before the expiration of the orphan exclusivity period. Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or
shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process. Fast Track designation is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the
review of therapies which treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. Programs with Fast Track designation may benefit from early and
frequent communications with the FDA, potential priority review, and additionally, a rolling submission of the marketing application. The benefits of
Breakthrough Therapy designation include the same benefits as Fast Track designation, plus intensive guidance from the FDA to ensure an efficient drug
development program.
Latozinemab for the Treatment of FTD
Our first product candidate, latozinemab, is a human recombinant monoclonal antibody that increases the levels of PGRN in the brains of FTD-GRN
patients. Administered via intravenous peripheral infusion, latozinemab functions by blocking the SORT1 degradation mechanism for PGRN and
increasing the circulating half-life of the functional PGRN in the brain. We are initially developing latozinemab for the treatment of symptomatic FTD due
to a progranulin gene mutation.
Overview of FTD
FTD is a rapidly progressing and severe degenerative brain disease with no approved treatment. FTD is a form of dementia found most frequently in
individuals less than 65 years old at time of diagnosis. Patients with FTD exhibit a range of personality-related symptoms, including compulsive behavior,
lack of restraint, apathy, and anxiety as well as language and behavioral problems. The rate of disease progression in FTD is faster than in Alzheimer’s
disease. Average life expectancy in FTD patients is seven to 10 years after the start of symptoms. FTD symptoms have an insidious onset with clinical
symptoms usually appearing between 45 to 65 years of age at an average age of 58. Hence, FTD is considered an early-onset dementia as compared to late-
onset Alzheimer’s disease and is more common than Alzheimer’s disease in early-onset dementia under the age of 60 years.
Figure 5. MRI of frontal and temporal atrophy in FTD.
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Although FTD was poorly understood and thought to be rare, over the past decade the scientific community has gained knowledge about the biology
of FTD as well as an awareness of disease prevalence. FTD affects 50,000 to 60,000 people in the United States and approximately 110,000 in the
European Union. There are multiple heritable forms of FTD; to date, researchers have identified over 70 inherited loss of function mutations in GRN that
lead to FTD. FTD-GRN patients represent 5% to 10% of all people with FTD.
Figure 6. Mutations in a single copy of GRN result in a 50% or greater decrease in the level of PGRN and result in a greater than 90% probability
of developing FTD. (1) Rhinn H, Tatton N, McCaughey S, Kurnellas M, Rosenthal A. Progranulin as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases.
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 2022 Aug; 43(8):641-652. DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.11.015. PMID: 35039149. (2) Meeter L et al Progranulin Levels
in Plasma and Cerebrispinal Fluid in Granulin Mutation Carriers. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord Extra 2016;6:330-340. DOI: 10.1159*000447738
In FTD-GRN patients, inhibition of SORT1 through latozinemab represents a potential mechanism to compensate for the over 50% reduction of
PGRN. Latozinemab is intended to reduce the ability of SORT1 to bind to and degrade PGRN, leading to increases in the levels of PGRN by increasing its
circulating half-life. We have tested our PGRN program antibodies in various animal models, healthy volunteers, and FTD-GRN patients and have achieved
significantly elevated, long-lasting levels of PGRN in the brain after intravenous administration.
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Figure 7. Mechanism of action for our PGRN programs. Latozinemab (referred to as AL001) binds to SORT1 and prevents degradation of PGRN,
increasing its circulating half-life significantly. A similar mechanism of action is also applicable for AL101.
Our PGRN Product Candidates’ Development Plan and Clinical Trial Results to Date
Latozinemab is currently being studied in a global pivotal Phase 3 trial in both at-risk and symptomatic participants with FTD-GRN, named
INFRONT-3. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial previously planned to enroll up to 180 FTD-GRN mutation carriers across
approximately 50 clinical sites in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Symptomatic and at-risk participants were randomized to receive
latozinemab or placebo intravenously every four weeks. Participants are also given the option to continue receiving treatment in an open-label extension
(OLE) study. In June 2022, the first participant from the INFRONT-3 study was enrolled in the optional OLE designed to assess the long-term safety,
tolerability, and efficacy of latozinemab in participants who have completed 96 weeks in the INFRONT-3 study, and enrollment in the OLE continues. The
primary endpoint of our pivotal Phase 3 trial is to measure the effect of latozinemab on clinical decline by utilizing the CDR® plus NACC FTLD-SB
assessment, which evaluates clinical impairments in behavior, language, memory, judgment, and functional activities in trial participants. In addition, our
Phase 3 trial will assess secondary clinical endpoints, multiple biomarkers, and safety. We and GSK held a Type C meeting with the FDA and received
scientific advice from the EMA regarding the pivotal INFRONT-3 Phase 3 clinical trial of latozinemab in participants with frontotemporal dementia due to
FTD-GRN. We and GSK previously aligned with the FDA and EMA to conduct the primary analysis on symptomatic participants in INFRONT-3. The
companies performed a sample size re-estimation that supported enrollment of approximately 90-100 symptomatic participants for a treatment duration of
96 weeks. In October 2023, we achieved our target enrollment in INFRONT-3 with 103 symptomatic and 16 at-risk participants enrolled. Target enrollment
was based on feedback from the FDA and EMA. Enrollment completion is subject to revised protocol approval in countries outside the United States.
In 2021, we presented data for latozinemab from our ongoing open-label Phase 2 INFRONT-2 clinical trial. INFRONT-2 was designed to establish
the safety and tolerability of chronic administration of latozinemab at therapeutic doses, and the study also measured biomarkers of disease and clinical
outcomes. Results from up to 12 symptomatic FTD-GRN patients treated over 12 months in an open-label study showed that latozinemab was well
tolerated. Treatment with latozinemab restored PGRN in both plasma and CSF to levels seen in healthy volunteer age-matched controls for the duration of
treatment.
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Figure 8. Latozinemab restores PGRN in plasma and CSF of FTD-GRN participants to levels seen in healthy volunteer age-matched controls.
In addition to assessing PGRN levels in plasma and CSF, we evaluated disease-associated proteins, including lysosomal (e.g., CTSD, LAMP1),
complement (C1QB), and astrogliosis (GFAP) biomarkers along with NfL. In our Phase 2 trial results presented in 2021, many of these disease-relevant
biomarkers of lysosomal function, complement activation, astrogliosis, and neuronal health trended toward normalization or remained stable over 12
months of treatment compared to baseline and age-matched controls.
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Figure 9. Latozinemab treatment normalizes lysosomal and complement biomarkers in CSF symptomatic FTD-GRN patients enrolled in our open
label Phase 2 trial. (1) The control group included N = 44 age-matched procured control samples, (2) at Baseline N = 11 FTD-GRN participants, (3) at 6
months treatment with latozinemab N = 9 FTD-GRN participants, and (4) at 12 months treatment with latozinemab N = 10 FTD-GRN participants
Figure 10. Latozinemab treatment decreases Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) levels towards normal levels in plasma and CSF of
asymptomatic FTD-GRN participants enrolled in our Phase 2 trial, suggesting a reduction in astrogliosis.
Figure 11. NfL levels in plasma and CSF are stable over 12 months in latozinemab-treated symptomatic FTD-GRN participants enrolled in our
Phase 2 trial.
To provide context for the clinical outcomes observed in the open-label INFRONT-2 trial, a matched control cohort of ten FTD-GRN participants
from the GENFI2 consortium was created using the propensity score matching technique. These ten GENFI2 patients were identified based on the CDR®
NACC FTLD SB at baseline and further
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refined by matching based on age, NfL levels, and clinical diagnosis at baseline, all done on a blinded basis without access to longitudinal results.
Using volumetric MRI, we found a greater than 10% reduction in the atrophy rates in favor of the latozinemab treated FTD-GRN patient population
for the whole brain and frontotemporal cortex measures, and an approximately 50% reduction in the rate of ventricular enlargement, relative to the matched
control GENFI2 cohort of FTD-GRN.
Figure 12. vMRI data suggest slowing of ventricular enlargement and brain atrophy in latozinemab treated FTD-GRN patients enrolled in our
open label Phase 2 trial.
In our Phase 2 trial, we also assessed clinical outcomes using the CDR® plus NACC FTLD-SB scale. The CDR® plus NACC FTLD-SB is the
Clinical Dementia Rating Scale plus National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center frontotemporal lobar degeneration sum of boxes rating scale developed for
patients with FTD. Latozinemab treatment was estimated to slow disease progression by 48% in 12 FTD-GRN patients at 12 months relative to matched
GENFI2 controls.
Figure 13. Treatment with latozinemab showed a slowing of clinical progression in FTD-GRN patients enrolled in our open label Phase 2 trial
relative to matched GENFI2 controls. Random Coefficient Model with Repeated Measurements including baseline and all available post-baseline
measurements up to 12 months.
In prior clinical trials, latozinemab was well tolerated and demonstrated proof of mechanism. In our Phase 1a trial (n=50) in healthy volunteers,
latozinemab was well tolerated. In our Phase 1b portion of the trial (n=14) in FTD-GRN patients, there was a statistically significant increase in PGRN
levels relative to baseline when compared to pooled placebo in plasma and in CSF at the pre-specified follow-up time point. In addition, results from these
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Phase 1 studies showed that latozinemab was generally well tolerated, with no drug-related serious adverse events or dose-limiting adverse events reported
in the trial.
Figure 14. Latozinemab restores PGRN levels in symptomatic and asymptomatic FTD-GRN patients back to the normal range as seen in healthy
volunteers.
Following their completion of the Phase 2 study or Phase 3 OLE study, we plan to give participants the option of enrolling in a continuation study,
which will continue to assess the long-term safety of latozinemab and to enable participants to remain on study drug.
Potential Additional Applications for Latozinemab
In order to treat any other neurodegenerative diseases including FTD patients other than those with GRN mutations with latozinemab, we will be
required to conduct additional clinical studies to obtain the applicable approvals for those specific patient populations. For example, excess aggregation of
TDP-43 in brain cells is thought to lead to neuronal cell death and is associated with multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including both FTD and ALS.
We enrolled an additional genetic subset of FTD patients (FTD-C9orf72) in our open-label Phase 2 clinical trial of latozinemab and we will need to conduct
an appropriate Phase 3 clinical trial to potentially obtain approval for treatment of FTD in the genetic subset of patients.
In 2021, we initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of latozinemab in people
with ALS who carry a C9orf72 mutation. In preclinical studies using multiple models of acute and chronic neurodegeneration, increasing progranulin
levels has been shown in the literature to reverse and be protective against TDP-43 pathology. In light of the evolving ALS landscape, we closed that Phase
2 study to additional enrollment, and we and GSK continue to evaluate plans for development of latozinemab in ALS.
AL101 for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease
We are developing a second product candidate in our PGRN programs, AL101, a human recombinant monoclonal antibody that also targets SORT1
and is designed to elevate progranulin levels similar to latozinemab. We are developing AL101 to target large chronic neurodegenerative diseases, such as
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Excess aggregation of TDP-43 in brain cells is thought to lead to neuronal cell death and is associated with
Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Polymorphic mutations that moderately reduce the expression levels of PGRN have been shown to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s
disease and Parkinson’s disease, and increased PGRN levels have been demonstrated to be protective for these diseases in animal models.
In February 2024, GSK dosed the first participant in the PROGRESS-AD global Phase 2 clinical trial of AL101/GSK4527226 in early AD.
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In 2022, we presented interim data from our Phase 1 clinical trial testing the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and
bioavailability of single doses of intravenously or subcutaneously administered AL101 in healthy volunteers. AL101 increased progranulin levels in the
periphery and the brain persisting for one month. AL101 was found to be well tolerated at all doses administered. We completed enrollment of additional
cohorts to test multiple doses of AL101 administered intravenously and subcutaneously. AL101 was well tolerated and increased PGRN levels in plasma
and CSF in a dose-dependent manner. In the two multiple dose (MD) cohorts, 27 healthy volunteers received either AL101 30 mg/kg IV every four weeks
(q4w) for a total of four doses [n=11] or AL101 300 mg subcutaneously (SC) every two weeks (q2w) for a total of seven doses [n=13]. Three volunteers
received MD IV placebo. AL101 was found to be generally well tolerated following MD IV (q4w) and SC (q2w) administrations. Consistent with
previously presented data following single doses, AL101 was measurable in the CSF following multiple IV and SC doses. MD administration of AL101
increased plasma and CSF PGRN levels, with a higher elevation observed in the AL101 30 mg/kg MD IV group than in the AL101 300 mg MD SC group.
Multiple IV doses of AL101 at 30 mg/kg increased and maintained the levels of PGRN at approximately 160% to 200% (2.6- to 3-fold) above baseline in
plasma and approximately 80% (1.8-fold) above baseline in the CSF. The PK and PD profile of AL101 following single and multiple IV doses support
future development in chronic neurodegenerative conditions such as AD and PD.
Figure 15. AL101 treatment increased PGRN levels in healthy volunteers enrolled in our Phase 1 trial.
Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly in people over 65 years of age and worsens over time. It is the
most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60% to 70% of all cases. The most common early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is difficulty in
remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems with language, disorientation, mood swings, loss of motivation,
failure to manage self-care, and behavioral issues. As a person’s condition declines, they often withdraw from family and society. Gradually, bodily
functions are lost, leading to death. Although the speed of progression can vary, the typical life expectancy following diagnosis is eight to ten years.
While estimates of the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease vary, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that in 2022, there were more than 6.5 million
Americans ages 65 and older suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and that number is projected to nearly triple by 2060. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth
leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth-leading cause of death for those ages 65 and older.
In addition to its debilitating effect on patients’ cognition and day-to-day functioning, Alzheimer’s disease places a significant burden on the
healthcare system. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the aggregate cost of care in 2023 for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of
dementia in the United States was estimated to be $345 billion, approximately 64% of which is borne by the Medicare and Medicaid systems. Total
payments for health care, long-term care, and hospice care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the United States are projected to increase to
nearly $1.0 trillion in 2050.
Our TREM2 Program
TREM2 is a transmembrane receptor protein that is expressed on a subset of innate immune cells and selectively on microglia in the brain. TREM2
on microglia cells is thought to promote improved cell migration to the site of injury, improved cell survival, increased phagocytosis, and increased cell
proliferation. Rare individuals
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with homozygous TREM2 mutations, or mutations on both chromosomal copies, may develop neurodegeneration by the age of 40 with an average lifespan
of 10 years following diagnosis. A gene variant in one of the two copies of TREM2 is found to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by three-fold. Not
only do mutations in a single copy of TREM2 increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease significantly, but Alzheimer’s disease patients with TREM2
mutations also exhibit an earlier onset of symptoms by three years and an increased rate of brain volume loss compared to individuals without such
mutations. Evidence also suggests that a gain of function mutation leading to increased expression of TREM2 confers a protective phenotype against
Alzheimer’s disease.
The discovery of strong genetic linkage of TREM2 to Alzheimer’s disease in 2013 was one of the first examples in which large scale genomic
analyses were used to identify a rare gene variation and link it to an increase in the risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
TREM2 binds to membrane lipids and lipoproteins such as Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) which are normally found in the brain. Polymorphisms in the
gene for ApoE are also known to significantly increase the risk of development of Alzheimer’s disease and are the single highest risk factor for
Alzheimer’s disease.
AL002 for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Our product candidate, AL002, is a humanized, TREM2 activating, monoclonal antibody that is intended to be delivered by intravenous, peripheral
infusion. AL002 is a microglia cell regulator that modulates the TREM2 receptor and is being developed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in
collaboration with AbbVie. For more information on our collaboration with AbbVie see the section titled “Business—Strategic Alliance with AbbVie.”
Figure 16. Mechanism of action of our TREM2 activating product candidate AL002.
There are currently no cures for Alzheimer’s disease. Two therapies directed at the underlying pathology of the disease have been approved by the
FDA with evidence of reduction of amyloid beta plaques and potential clinical benefit. Both aducanumab and lecanemab received accelerated approval
from the FDA based on a surrogate endpoint, the reduction of amyloid beta plaque in the brain. The FDA subsequently granted full approval of lecanemab
based on the cognitive endpoint. Other classes of approved therapies are for symptomatic treatment including, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and
glutamatergic modulators. Drugs for symptomatic treatment are intended to help preserve neuronal communication, but only provide temporary benefit and
do not slow or halt neuronal death. In addition, antidepressants and antipsychotics are often prescribed off-label to treat the symptoms of severe
Alzheimer’s disease in patients suffering from agitation, aggressive behaviors, psychosis, and depression.
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Recent drug candidates under development for Alzheimer’s disease include those focused on blocking synthesis, enhancing clearance or
disaggregating misfolded amyloid beta or tau proteins in the brain, reversing chronic inflammation, and repairing vascular dysfunction, metabolic
dysregulation, as well as neurotoxicity. Almost all of these candidates were designed to target just one of the multiple Alzheimer’s disease pathologies, and
most of these drug candidates have so far failed to demonstrate significant benefit.
Although amyloid beta plaques and tau protein in the brain represent physical pathologies of the disease and are believed to cause a loss of neuronal
connectivity in the brain and neuronal death, recent scientific data paints a more complex picture. We believe more efficacious therapies will likely require
addressing multiple pathologies including those associated with microglial failure.
Our TREM2 Clinical Program
In January 2021, we initiated INVOKE-2, our Phase 2 trial in Alzheimer’s disease patients in early stages of the disease. The randomized, double-
blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, multi-center Phase 2 trial was intended to enroll approximately 265 participants with early AD at up to 90 sites
globally, and in 2023 we added additional participants in the ongoing INVOKE-2 trial to replace discontinuations, including APOE e4/e4 participants, from
the study. The primary endpoint of our Phase 2 trial will measure disease progression utilizing the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB). The
trial will also measure multiple fluid and imaging biomarkers, and assess several secondary clinical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic endpoints, as
well as safety to generate data enabling pivotal Phase 3 studies. In January 2023, the first participant from the INVOKE-2 study was enrolled and dosed in
an LTE of our Phase 2 clinical trial. In the third quarter of 2023, we completed enrollment of 381 patients in the INVOKE-2 clinical trial, with data
expected in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Treatment-emergent MRI findings resembling amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) have been observed in the INVOKE 2 study. ARIA
are MRI findings that may include vasogenic edema, sulcal effusions, microhemorrhages and/or superficial siderosis. The incidence of ARIA has been
shown to increase in Alzheimer’s disease patients with the administration of certain Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics, namely anti-β-amyloid antibodies.
We do not yet know whether the biological mechanism(s) causing these MRI changes are the same as that associated with the ARIA that has been
described with anti-amyloid beta antibodies. In our INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial, most cases resembling ARIA were asymptomatic and non-serious.
However, a small number of ARIA-related serious adverse events occurred early in the trial in patients with the APOE e4/e4 genotype, as previously
reported. To mitigate risks associated with ARIA, at that time we voluntarily discontinued dosing and enrollment of APOE e4/e4 participants in our
INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial. Following these changes, a small number of ARIA-related serious adverse events occurred in patients who are non-
homozygous for the APOE e4 allele. We continue to implement earlier MRI monitoring, and are following recently published guidelines for ARIA
monitoring and management. We are conducting this study under the guidance of an IDMC, which is allowed to review unblinded data and to make trial
recommendations.
In 2019, we completed the Phase 1a portion (n=56) of a clinical trial in healthy volunteers with AL002. AL002 was well tolerated in the single
ascending dose part of our Phase 1 trial. In addition, a dose dependent and statistically significant change in both soluble TREM2 (sTREM2) and
downstream biomarkers for microglia functionality in CSF were observed upon treatment, indicating both target engagement and proof-of-mechanism in
healthy volunteers. Based on the tolerability observed in our Phase 1a healthy volunteer trial, as well as encouraging biomarker data, we initiated the Phase
1b portion of the trial with AL002 in participants with Alzheimer’s disease. However, based on the data collected to date in preclinical studies as well as in
healthy volunteers, and in alignment with our partner AbbVie, we closed enrollment in the Phase 1b trial, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,
and shifted to initiating our Phase 2 trial. In our Phase 1 clinical trial, AL002 demonstrated tolerability, target engagement, and proof-of-mechanism in the
central nervous systems of healthy volunteers and Alzheimer’s disease patients.
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Figure 17. In healthy volunteers, a dose dependent decrease in sTREM2 and an increase in CSF-1R, a biomarker of microglial activation was
observed in our AL002 Phase 1 clinical trial. CSF samples were taken from the five highest dose cohorts. The data shown are derived from analysis of
CSF samples from 34 healthy volunteers (* denotes p<0.05 by T-test, *** denotes p<0.001 by T-test).
Our TREM2 Preclinical Data
AL002 binds to TREM2 on the surface of microglia and is designed to optimize microglial activity through the phosphorylation of Spleen
Associated Tyrosine Kinase. With prominent academic collaborators, we demonstrated that AL002s, an antibody that is functionally similar to AL002 but
cross-reacts with mouse TREM2, can normalize gene expression signatures associated with Alzheimer’s disease and reduce pathology in a mouse model of
Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, AL002c, a form of AL002 with a murine Fc region, was shown to induce microglial proliferation and amyloid plaque
compaction and decrease dystrophic neurites associated with damaged neurons in a severe amyloid mouse model that expresses either the normal or genetic
risk variant of the human TREM2.
Figure 18. AL002s significantly improves cognitive deficit in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. (**** indicates p<0.0001 by T-test)
Add-on and Potential Combination Use of Our Product Candidates
Our therapies are also likely to act in conjunction with each other or with other experimental drugs that are designed to remove pathological
proteins. Therapies such as antibodies against amyloid-beta, tau filaments or misfolded alpha-synuclein protein are designed to tag the pathological proteins
and recruit microglia to dispose of the drug/pathological protein complex. Aging microglia are less likely to perform this function effectively, and our
immuno-neurology therapies could ameliorate this deficiency. We intend to explore various combination strategies
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in preclinical models and will, in the future, consider moving this strategy into the clinic based upon results from preclinical models.
Strategic Alliance with GSK
Overview
In July 2021, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with GSK, pursuant to which we and GSK will collaborate on the global
development and commercialization of progranulin-elevating monoclonal antibodies, including latozinemab and AL101. The GSK Agreement became
effective on August 17, 2021.
Under the terms of the GSK Agreement, we received $700 million in upfront payments, of which $500 million was received in August 2021 and
$200 million was received in January 2022. In addition, we may be eligible to receive up to an additional $1.5 billion in clinical development, regulatory,
and commercial launch-related milestone payments, including $160 million for the first commercial sale in the United States and $90 million for the first
commercial sale in at least two of the following countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, or the United Kingdom. In the United States, the parties will
equally share profits and losses from commercialization of latozinemab and AL101. Outside of the United States, we will be eligible for double-digit tiered
royalties.
The parties will jointly develop latozinemab and AL101, with GSK conducting Phase 3 clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
disease and other non-orphan indications. GSK will also conduct the initial Phase 2 trial for AL101 in Alzheimer’s disease. Development costs will be
shared 60% by GSK and 40% by us, except that we will solely bear the development costs of the initial Phase 2 clinical trials under the development plan,
and the parties will share manufacturing development costs equally.
In May 2023, we and GSK amended the GSK Agreement. Under the terms of the GSK Amendment, we are responsible for funding and sharing in
GSK’s and our development costs up to $140.5 million for the conduct of the initial Phase 2 trial for AL101 in Alzheimer’s disease.
In the United States, the parties will be jointly responsible for commercialization of latozinemab and AL101, with us leading the commercialization
for orphan indications and GSK leading the commercialization for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and other non-orphan indications. Outside
of the United States, GSK will be solely responsible for commercialization of latozinemab and AL101 for all indications. We may opt out of the sharing of
development costs and of profit and losses from commercialization in the United States on a product-by-product basis. In such case, we will no longer
conduct development or commercialization of that product and the Company will receive tiered royalties on net sales in the United States instead of a share
of profits or losses. GSK may terminate the agreement with 180 days’ notice at any time, but we would not need to repay any portion of the payments
received.
Governance. The collaboration is governed by a joint steering committee (JSC). The JSC may establish additional subcommittees to oversee
particular projects or activities. Subject to limitations specified in the GSK Agreement, if the applicable governance committee is unable to make a decision
by consensus and the parties are unable to resolve the issue through escalation to specified senior executive officers of the parties, then the issue is
escalated to an alternative dispute resolution subject to final decision-making rights retained by each party.
Exclusivity. During the term of the GSK Agreement, each of Alector and GSK are subject to exclusivity requirements prohibiting certain activities
outside of the GSK Agreement directed to targets under the GSK Agreement.
Intellectual Property. Ownership of intellectual property created in connection with the GSK Agreement is generally determined on the basis of
inventorship. Generally, we have the first right to control prosecution and maintenance of licensed patents, including patents developed solely by us or
jointly by the parties, in the United States, and GSK has the first right to control prosecution and maintenance of such patents outside the United States.
GSK has the first right to prosecute infringement of such patents by certain third-party products. The parties shall mutually agree on which party shall
control the defense against claims that a product developed under either of the programs that are the subject of the GSK Agreement infringes third-party
intellectual property rights, with the party against whom such claims have been filed having the first right to defend in the absence of such mutual
agreement.
Term and Termination. At any point during the term of the GSK Agreement, after a specified notice period, GSK can terminate the GSK
Agreement in its entirety for convenience. Additionally, GSK or we can terminate the
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GSK Agreement in connection with a material breach of the GSK Agreement by the other party that remains uncured for a specified period of time.
Strategic Alliance with AbbVie
Overview
In October 2017, we entered into the Co-Development and Option Agreement with AbbVie. The primary goal of our global strategic collaboration
with AbbVie is to co-develop and commercialize therapeutics to treat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Under the AbbVie Agreement, we granted AbbVie an exclusive option to global development and commercialization for our TREM2 and SIGLEC
3 programs. The terms of the AbbVie Agreement included initial upfront payments of $205.0 million and $20.0 million from the sale of shares of our stock.
We are responsible for the design and execution of Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies. In June 2022, AbbVie provided notice of termination with respect to the
SIGLEC 3 program. In February 2023, we and AbbVie amended the AbbVie agreement, which resulted in our receiving a $17.8 million milestone payment
for the dosing of the first patient in a long-term extension (LTE) study and a $12.5 million payment for the enrollment of additional patients. If AbbVie
exercises its option for the TREM2 program, we will receive $250.0 million. Additionally, under the terms of the AbbVie Agreement, we will be eligible to
earn up to an additional $225 million in milestone payments related to the regulatory approval for up to three indications. Following AbbVie’s option
exercise for the TREM2 program, AbbVie would be responsible for certain development activities and global commercialization, taking advantage of its
global clinical trial expertise and commercialization networks. Additionally, following AbbVie's option exercise, we may opt out of sharing development
costs and profits and instead receive a tiered royalty on sales of products. Through this partnership, we aim to leverage the strengths of both organizations
efficiently to best achieve the desired outcome.
Exercise of option. AbbVie may exercise its option for the TREM2 program at any time until the expiration of the option term. The option term
ends following a fixed period after AbbVie receives our data package resulting from our TREM2 research and development program. If AbbVie does not
exercise its option during the option term for a product candidate, we will retain all rights to the TREM2 program. If AbbVie exercises its option for the
TREM2 program, then AbbVie will lead development and commercialization activities worldwide. After AbbVie opts in, AbbVie must use commercially
reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize AL002 globally.
Governance. The collaboration is governed by a joint steering committee (JSC). The JSC may establish additional subcommittees to oversee
particular projects or activities. Subject to limitations specified in the AbbVie Agreement, if the applicable governance committee is unable to make a
decision by consensus and the parties are unable to resolve the issue through escalation to specified senior executive officers of the parties, then the issue is
escalated to an alternative dispute resolution subject to final decision-making rights retained by each party.
Exclusivity. During the term of the AbbVie Agreement, we and AbbVie are subject to exclusivity requirements prohibiting certain activities outside
of the AbbVie Agreement directed to TREM2.
Intellectual Property. Ownership of intellectual property created in connection with the AbbVie Agreement is generally determined on the basis of
inventorship. Generally, each party has the first right to prosecute and maintain its own patents. We generally have the first right to prosecute and maintain
joint patents prior to AbbVie’s exercise of its option for the program relating to such patents, and AbbVie has the right following its exercise of such option.
AbbVie has the first right to prosecute any infringement of jointly held patents developed under the AbbVie Agreement and our patents that are licensed
under the AbbVie Agreement. Additionally, AbbVie has the sole right to prosecute its own patents. AbbVie has the first right to defend against claims that a
product developed under the TREM2 program that is the subject of the AbbVie Agreement infringe third-party intellectual property rights.
Term and Termination. At any point during the term of the AbbVie Agreement, including during the research, development, and clinical trial
process, AbbVie can terminate the AbbVie Agreement for convenience. In that event, all rights related to the TREM2 program revert to us. Additionally,
AbbVie or we can terminate the AbbVie Agreement in connection with a material breach of the AbbVie Agreement by the other party that remains uncured
for a specified period of time.
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Adimab Collaboration Agreements
Overview – 2014 Adimab Collaboration Agreement (2014 Adimab Agreement)
In 2014, we entered into the 2014 Adimab Collaboration Agreement (the 2014 Adimab Agreement). Under the 2014 Adimab Agreement, we are
required to fund, and we and Adimab LLC (Adimab) are required to use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct, certain research to discover and
optimize antibodies directed against targets selected by us. We are developing antibodies discovered by Adimab in our latozinemab and AL101 product
candidates, and we are developing an antibody optimized by Adimab in our AL002 product candidate.
Governance. Our collaboration with Adimab is governed by a research committee consisting of at least two representatives from each party. The
research committee prioritizes among research programs and prepares and finalizes new proposed research plans, among other activities. If the research
committee is unable to make a decision by consensus and the parties are unable to resolve the issue through escalation to specified senior executive officers
of the parties, then either party may seek arbitration of the matter.
Exclusivity. Pursuant to the 2014 Adimab Agreement, each party is subject to limitations on its ability to use information or material provided by the
other outside the scope of the collaboration.
Intellectual Property. Ownership of intellectual property arising from the research is generally owned by the party that invents or creates the
applicable intellectual property, although certain categories of intellectual property are specifically assigned to one party or the other. For example, patent
rights relating to improvements to Adimab’s background platform technology that are invented in the course of the research are assigned to Adimab. Prior
to our exercise of the option described below, we and Adimab each grant the other a non-exclusive license to the relevant intellectual property we own to
allow each party to carry out its rights and obligations in connection with the research; and except for Adimab’s retained rights to continue using and
licensing its own libraries, each party agrees not to practice or license the patents arising out of the research that it owns for any purpose other than to carry
out its rights and obligations in connection with the research. Generally, each party has the obligation to prosecute, maintain, defend, and enforce its own
patents, but we are subject to certain contractual restrictions on our ability to prosecute, practice, and license certain of our patents that arose out of the
research. These restrictions are lifted once we exercise the option described below as to such patents.
Exercise of Options. The 2014 Adimab Agreement granted us an exclusive option to obtain certain rights relating to a specified number of
antibodies discovered or optimized by Adimab directed against the targets we selected. The option extended to ownership of patent rights specifically
covering the sequences of such antibodies, and the right to obtain worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable licenses under certain technology owned or
developed by Adimab to research, develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, import and export such antibodies and products based on such
antibodies for all human therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic uses. These licenses are exclusive, except as to Adimab background and platform
technology and Adimab’s retained rights to continue using and licensing its own libraries, as to which the licenses are non-exclusive. We have confirmed
with Adimab in writing that key patents we have filed relating to the programs partnered with AbbVie claim inventions owned solely by us, and do not
include any such background or platform technology of Adimab. All of our options under the 2014 Adimab Agreement have either expired, are in the
process of being exercised, or, with respect to multiple targets and hundreds of antibodies (including the target programs partnered with AbbVie), have
already been exercised. Upon our exercise of the option with respect to a target, we are subject to an obligation to devote commercially reasonable efforts
to commercialize products using the optioned rights to such target. The assigned and licensed patent rights we obtained from these option exercises are
described in more detail above under the section titled “Business—Intellectual Property.”
Financial terms. We fund Adimab’s research in connection with our collaboration, in accordance with the terms and limitations described in the
2014 Adimab Agreement. We also have potential milestone payments per program for use of antibodies and low- to mid-single digit royalty payments for
commercial sales of products incorporating such antibodies. However, if we enter into any transaction granting rights to the inventions or sell products
created as a result of a collaboration with a third party, we have a choice to pay a share of the resulting revenue instead of royalties from such sales.
Term and Termination. We are able to terminate the 2014 Adimab Agreement, in its entirety or with respect to a products or antibodies directed to
particular targets, on three months prior written notice to Adimab. In addition, either party can terminate the 2014 Adimab Agreement in its entirety, or,
subject to certain limitations, with respect to specific optioned rights, for material breaches that remain uncured after 90 days’ notice to the breaching party.
In
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the case of a termination before expiration of the 2014 Adimab Agreement, we would have certain continuing payment obligations to Adimab, or would be
required to adhere to certain restrictions as to the fruits of the collaboration. The 2014 Adimab Agreement expires on the twelfth anniversary of the first
commercial sale of the products created under the collaboration, on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis. The licenses we and Adimab
granted to each other do not survive, subject to certain limitations.
Overview—2019 Adimab Collaboration Agreement (2019 Adimab Agreement)
In 2019, we entered into another Adimab collaboration agreement (the 2019 Adimab Agreement). Under the 2019 Adimab Agreement, we are
required to fund, and we and Adimab are required to use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct, certain research to discover and optimize antibodies
directed against targets selected by us. We have not yet identified any research programs under the 2019 Adimab Agreement.
Governance. Our collaboration with Adimab is governed by a research committee consisting of at least two representatives from each party. The
research committee facilitates communication regarding research under the 2019 Adimab Agreement and has the limited authority to amend a research plan
in a manner not substantially affecting the resources required from a party. If the research committee is unable to make a decision by consensus, no decision
will be taken.
Exclusivity. Pursuant to the 2019 Adimab Agreement, each party is subject to limitations on its ability to use information or material provided by the
other outside the scope of the collaboration.
Intellectual Property. Ownership of intellectual property arising from the research is generally owned by the party that invents or creates the
applicable intellectual property, although certain categories of intellectual property are specifically assigned to one party or the other. Certain intellectual
property relating to Adimab’s background platform technology including any improvements thereto that are invented in the course of the research are
assigned to Adimab. Patents covering antibodies that are the subject of the collaboration are owned by us; however, prior to our exercise of the option
described below, we are prohibited from practicing such patents for any purpose other than to perform our research obligations under the 2019 Adimab
Agreement. Upon the expiration of the option term described below, in the event we elect not to exercise our option right with respect to an antibody,
ownership of such patents is transferred to Adimab. Prior to our exercise of the option described below, we and Adimab each grant the other a non-
exclusive license to the relevant intellectual property we own to allow each party to carry out its rights and obligations in connection with the research.
Generally, each party has the obligation to prosecute, maintain, defend, and enforce its own patents, but we are subject to certain contractual restrictions on
our ability to prosecute, practice, and license certain of our patents that arose out of the research. These restrictions are lifted once we exercise the option
described below as to such patents.
Exercise of Options. The 2019 Adimab Agreement granted us an exclusive option to obtain certain rights relating to a specified number of
antibodies discovered or optimized by Adimab directed against the targets we selected. The option extends to ownership of the applicable optioned
antibody, and the right to obtain worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable non-exclusive licenses under certain technology owned or developed by Adimab
to research, develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, import and export such antibodies and products based on such antibodies for all human
therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic uses. Upon our exercise of the option with respect to a target, we are subject to an obligation to devote
commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize products using the optioned rights to such target.
Financial terms. We fund Adimab’s research in connection with our collaboration, in accordance with the terms and limitations described in the
2019 Adimab Agreement. We are also responsible for certain development fees and, in the event we exercise the option right, we are obligated to pay an
option fee. We also have potential milestone payments per product for use of antibodies, subject to certain limitations on total payments owed on any given
target, and low-single digit royalty payments for commercial sales of products incorporating such antibodies.
Term and Termination. We are able to terminate the 2019 Adimab Agreement, in its entirety or with respect to a products or antibodies directed to
particular targets, on 60 days’ prior written notice to Adimab. In addition, either party can terminate the 2019 Adimab Agreement in its entirety for material
breaches that remain uncured after 90 days’ notice to the breaching party. In the case of a termination before expiration of the 2019 Adimab Agreement, we
would be prohibited from using the fruits of the collaboration. The 2019 Adimab Agreement expires, on a product-by-product and country-by-country
basis, on the later of the twelfth anniversary of the first commercial sale of such product in such country and expiration of the last patent covering such
product in such country, or, in
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the event no product is optioned under the 2019 Adimab Agreement, upon the last to expire option period. Upon expiration, the licenses Adimab granted to
us with respect to products for which we have exercised our option will continue on a non-exclusive, royalty-free basis.
Overview—2021 Adimab Collaboration Agreement (2021 Adimab Agreement)
In 2021, we entered into another Adimab collaboration agreement (the 2021 Adimab Agreement). Under the 2021 Adimab Agreement, we were
required to fund antibody engineering research programs with respect to targets selected by us. The 2021 Adimab Agreement also granted us an exclusive
option to obtain a specified number of engineered sequences discovered or optimized by Adimab and directed against the targets that we selected. We
selected one target, which was the subject of a research program conducted by the parties. We did not exercise our option to obtain any engineered
sequences in connection with that research program, and we did not nominate any additional targets for additional research programs. The 2021 Adimab
Agreement expired at the end of the option period for the research program that was conducted.
Manufacturing
We must manufacture our product candidates for clinical trial use in compliance with cGMP regulations. The cGMP regulations include
requirements relating to organization of personnel, buildings and facilities, equipment, control of components and drug product containers and closures,
production and process controls, packaging and labeling controls, holding and distribution, laboratory controls, records and reports, and returned or
salvaged products. The manufacturing facilities for our product candidates must meet cGMP requirements and FDA or comparable foreign regulatory
authority’s satisfaction before any product is approved for human clinical trial use. Our third-party manufacturers will also be subject to periodic
inspections of their respective facilities for general cGMP compliance by the FDA and other foreign authorities. These inspections may include review of
procedures and operations used in the testing and manufacture of our products to assess compliance with applicable regulations.
We do not currently have the infrastructure or internal capability to manufacture our product candidates for use in clinical trials and
commercialization. We rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third-party cGMP manufacturers or our collaboration partners for the production of our
products for human clinical trials in compliance with FDA and other foreign authority regulations for such products. We rely on contract development and
manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) to manufacture and supply our preclinical and clinical materials to be used during the preclinical and clinical
development of our product candidates. As part of our broad manufacturing strategy to expedite the manufacturing of our product candidates and minimize
manufacturing risk, we currently have established relationships with several CDMOs for the manufacturing of our drug substance or product candidates.
We do not have long-term supply agreements and we purchase our required drug product through development manufacturing services agreement.
We expect to continue to rely on third-party manufacturers or our collaboration partners for the commercial supply of any of our product candidates for
which we obtain marketing approval. We have personnel with significant technical, manufacturing, analytical, quality, regulatory, including cGMP, and
project management experience to oversee our third-party manufacturers and to manage manufacturing and quality data and information for regulatory
compliance purposes.
Failure to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements subjects a manufacturer to possible legal or regulatory action, including warning
letters, the seizure or recall of products, injunctions, consent decrees placing significant restrictions on or suspending manufacturing operations and civil
and criminal penalties. Contract manufacturers often encounter difficulties involving production yields, quality control and quality assurance, as well as
shortages of qualified personnel. Any of these actions or events could have a material impact on the availability of our products.
Commercialization Plan
We do not currently have any approved drugs, and we do not expect to have any approved drugs in the near term. Therefore, we have no sales,
marketing or commercial product distribution capabilities and have no experience as a company in marketing drugs. When, and if any of our product
candidates are approved for commercialization, we intend to develop a commercialization infrastructure for those products in the United States, Europe,
Asia, and potentially in certain other key markets. We may also rely on partnerships, such as our AbbVie and GSK
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collaborations, to provide commercialization infrastructure, including sales and marketing and commercial distribution.
Intellectual Property
Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain and maintain proprietary protection for our product candidates, technology and know-how, to
operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others and to enforce our proprietary rights against infringers. Our strategy is to seek to protect our
proprietary position by, among other methods, pursuing and obtaining patent protection in the United States and in jurisdictions outside of the United States
related to our proprietary technology, inventions, improvements, and product candidates that are important to the development and implementation of our
business. Our patent portfolio is intended to cover our product candidates and related components, their methods of use and processes for their
manufacture, our proprietary reagents, assays and platforms, and any other inventions that are commercially important to our business. We also rely on
trademarks as well as trade secret protection of our confidential information and know-how relating to our proprietary technology, platforms, methods and
product candidates. We believe that we have substantial know-how and trade secrets relating to our technology and product candidates.
As of December 31, 2023, our patent portfolio contains over 50 families, which include 79 issued patents and over 500 pending patent applications
that are directed to over 20 different targets and/or technologies and that are solely owned or we have rights to exclusive licenses by us. For our product
candidates, we generally pursue multilayered patent protection covering the composition of matter based on binding epitopes of the product candidates on
the target protein, functional characteristics of the product candidates, degenerative sequence of the product candidates, and/or specific sequence of the
product candidates. In addition to composition of matter coverage, we also generally pursue claims directed to methods of making, nucleic acids,
formulations, and methods of using the product candidates. The method of use claims further include claims directed to methods of treatment, patient
selection criteria, biomarkers, disease subgroups, pharmacodynamic and clinical end-points, and dosage regimes. As further described below, we intend to
strengthen the patent protection of our product candidates and technologies through additional patent application filings.
PGRN Programs
We own six patent families directed to our PGRN programs, latozinemab and AL101, which include seven issued U.S. patents, covering the
compositions and uses of our PGRN program product candidates. The first two patent families are expected to expire in 2036, the third patent family is
expected to expire in 2039, the fourth patent family is expected to expire in 2040, the fifth patent family is expected to expire in 2041, and the sixth patent
family is expected to expire in 2042, in all cases excluding any patent term adjustments and any patent term extensions.
TREM2 Program
We own seven patent families directed to the TREM2 program, which include two issued U.S. patents, covering the compositions and uses of our
TREM2 program product candidates. The first patent family is expected to expire in 2035, the second patent family is expected to expire in 2036, the third
patent family is expected to expire in 2038, the fourth patent family is expected to expire in 2040, the fifth and sixth patent families are expected to expire
in 2041, and the seventh patent family is expected to expire in 2043, in all cases excluding any patent term adjustments and any patent term extensions.
The term of individual patents depends upon the legal term for patents in the countries in which they are granted. In most countries, including the
United States, the patent term is generally 20 years from the earliest claimed filing date of a non-provisional patent application in the applicable country. In
the United States, a patent’s term may, in certain cases, be lengthened by patent term adjustment, which compensates a patentee for administrative delays
by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in examining and granting a patent, or may be shortened if a patent is terminally disclaimed over a commonly
owned patent or a patent naming a common inventor and having an earlier expiration date. The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of
1984 (Hatch-Waxman Act) permits a patent term extension of up to five years beyond the expiration date of a U.S. patent as partial compensation for the
length of time the drug is under regulatory review while the patent is in force. A patent term extension cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond
a total of 14 years from the date of product approval, only one patent applicable to each regulatory review period may be extended and only those claims
covering the approved drug, a method for using it or a method for manufacturing it, may be extended.
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Similar provisions are available in the European Union and certain other foreign jurisdictions to extend the term of a patent that covers an approved
drug. In the future, if and when our product candidates receive approval by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities, we expect to apply for patent term
extensions on issued patents covering those products, depending upon the length of the clinical trials for each drug and other factors. Expiration dates
referred to above are without regard to potential patent term extension or other market exclusivity that may be available to us.
We also rely, in some circumstances, on trade secrets to protect our technology. However, trade secrets can be difficult to protect. We seek to protect
our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors and contractors. We
also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our data and trade secrets by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and
electronic security of our information technology systems.
Competition
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including in the neurodegenerative disease field, are characterized by rapidly advancing
technologies, strong competition and an emphasis on intellectual property. We face substantial competition from many different sources, including large
and specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic research institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research
institutions. Some of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are currently pursuing the development of products for the treatment of the
neurodegenerative disease indications for which we have research programs, including FTD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS, include
large companies with significant financial resources, such as Biogen, Eli Lilly, Merck, Roche Holding AG, and Eisai. Some of these companies are
pursuing product candidates for the same or similar indications to ours and in some cases acting on the same targets or through comparable mechanisms of
action. We believe that the key competitive factors affecting the success of any of our product candidates will include efficacy, safety profile, method of
administration, cost, time to market, level of promotional activity and intellectual property protection.
We anticipate our product candidates will compete with therapies approved for treating the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases and therapies
approved or currently in clinical studies intended to halt or slow the progression of neurodegenerative disease that are being developed by a number of
companies and institutions.
Government Regulation
Government authorities in the United States at the federal, state and local level and in other countries regulate, among other things, the research,
development, testing, manufacture, quality control, approval, labeling, packaging, storage, record-keeping, promotion, advertising, distribution, post-
approval monitoring and reporting, marketing and export and import of drug and biological products. Generally, before a new drug or biologic can be
marketed, considerable data demonstrating its quality, safety and efficacy must be obtained, organized into a format specific for each regulatory authority,
submitted for review and approved by the regulatory authority.
U.S. Drug Development
In the United States, the FDA regulates drugs under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and biologics under the FDCA and the Public
Health Service Act (PHSA). Both drugs and biologics also are subject to other federal, state and local statutes and regulations. The process of obtaining
regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of
substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply with the applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product development process,
approval process or post-market may subject an applicant to administrative or judicial sanctions. These sanctions could include, among other actions, the
FDA’s refusal to approve pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, a clinical hold, untitled or warning letters, product recalls or market
withdrawals, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution,
disgorgement and civil or criminal penalties. Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on us.
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Any future product candidates must be approved by the FDA through either a BLA or NDA process before they may be legally marketed in the
United States. The process generally involves the following:
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Completion of extensive preclinical studies in accordance with applicable regulations, including studies conducted in accordance with GLP;
Submission to the FDA of an investigational new drug application (IND), which must become effective before human clinical trials may
begin;
Approval by an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB), or ethics committee at each clinical trial site before each trial may be
initiated;
Performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials in accordance with applicable IND regulations, good clinical practice
(GCP), requirements and other clinical trial-related regulations to establish the safety and efficacy of the investigational product for each
proposed indication;
Submission to the FDA of an NDA or BLA;
A determination by the FDA within 60 days of its receipt of an NDA or BLA to accept the filing for review;
Satisfactory completion of a FDA pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities where the drug or biologic will be
produced to assess compliance with cGMP, requirements to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the drug
or biologic’s identity, strength, quality, and purity;
Potential FDA audit of the preclinical study and/or clinical trial sites that generated the data in support of the NDA or BLA;
FDA review and approval of the NDA or BLA, including consideration of the views of any FDA advisory committee, prior to any
commercial marketing or sale of the drug or biologic in the United States; and
Compliance with any post-approval requirements, including the potential requirement to implement a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation
Strategy (REMS), and the potential requirement to conduct post-approval studies.
The data required to support an NDA or BLA are generated in two distinct developmental stages: preclinical and clinical. The preclinical and
clinical testing and approval process requires substantial time, effort and financial resources, and we cannot be certain that any approvals for any future
product candidates will be granted on a timely basis, or at all.
The preclinical developmental stage generally involves laboratory evaluations of drug chemistry, formulation and stability, as well as studies to
evaluate toxicity in animals, which support subsequent clinical testing. The sponsor must submit the results of the preclinical studies, together with
manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and a proposed clinical protocol, to the FDA as part of the IND. An IND
is a request for authorization from the FDA to administer an investigational product to humans and must become effective before human clinical trials may
begin.
Preclinical studies include laboratory evaluation of product chemistry and formulation, as well as in vitro and animal studies to assess the potential
for adverse events and in some cases to establish a rationale for therapeutic use. The conduct of preclinical studies is subject to federal regulations and
requirements, including GLP regulations for safety/toxicology studies. An IND sponsor must submit the results of the preclinical tests, together with
manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and plans for clinical studies, among other things, to the FDA as part of
an IND. Some long-term preclinical testing, such as animal tests of reproductive adverse events and carcinogenicity, may continue after the IND is
submitted. An IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless before that time the FDA raises concerns or questions related
to one or more proposed clinical trials and places the trial on clinical hold. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding
concerns before the clinical trial can begin. As a result, submission of an IND may not result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to commence.
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Regulatory requirements for approval of therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are evolving. For example, two agents,
aducanumab and lecanemab, received accelerated approval from the FDA based on a surrogate endpoint, the reduction of amyloid beta plaque in the brain.
The FDA subsequently granted full approval of lecanemab based on the cognitive endpoint. Under the FDA’s accelerated approval pathway, a surrogate
endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients may serve as the basis for an accelerated approval, subject to subsequent
confirmatory studies. By contrast, the FDA declined to grant accelerated approval for another product, donanemab, in AD, based on an insufficient number
of patients with at least 12 months of drug exposure. FDA also recently granted accelerated approval for sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol for treatment
of ALS, based on efficacy data from a single 24-week Phase 2 study. The FDA advisory committee that voted in favor of approval was presented with
survival data for the drug in that Phase 2 study as well as biomarker data from the drug in a separate Phase 2 AD study.
In addition, a recent publication of disease progression models for genetically inherited forms of FTD, including FTD-GRN, may help inform the
design of clinical trials for such forms of FTD based on more accurate estimations of sample size and the potential use of biomarkers as surrogate endpoints
to reduce sample size. We and GSK held a Type C meeting with the FDA and received scientific advice from the EMA regarding the pivotal INFRONT-3
Phase 3 clinical trial of latozinemab in participants with frontotemporal dementia due to FTD-GRN. We and GSK previously aligned with the FDA and
EMA to conduct the primary analysis on symptomatic participants in INFRONT-3. The companies performed a sample size re-estimation that supported
enrollment of approximately 90-100 symptomatic participants for a treatment duration of 96 weeks.
Clinical Trials
The clinical stage of development involves the administration of the investigational product to healthy volunteers or patients under the supervision
of qualified investigators, generally physicians not employed by or under the trial sponsor’s control, in accordance with GCP requirements, which include
the requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent for their participation in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under
protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, dosing procedures, subject selection and exclusion criteria and the parameters to
be used to monitor subject safety and assess efficacy. Each protocol, and any subsequent amendments to the protocol, must be submitted to the FDA as part
of the IND. Furthermore, each clinical trial must be reviewed and approved by an IRB for each institution at which the clinical trial will be conducted to
ensure that the risks to individuals participating in the clinical trials are minimized and are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits. The IRB also
approves the informed consent form that must be provided to each clinical trial subject or his or her legal representative, and must monitor the clinical trial
until completed. There also are requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical trials and completed clinical trial results to public registries.
A sponsor who wishes to conduct a clinical trial outside of the United States may, but need not, obtain FDA authorization to conduct the clinical
trial under an IND. If a foreign clinical trial is not conducted under an IND, the sponsor may submit data from the clinical trial to the FDA in support of an
NDA or BLA. The FDA will accept a well-designed and well-conducted foreign clinical trial not conducted under an IND if the trial was conducted in
accordance with GCP requirements and the FDA is able to validate the data through an onsite inspection if deemed necessary.
Clinical trials in the United States generally are conducted in three sequential phases, known as Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3, and may overlap.
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Phase 1 clinical trials generally involve a small number of healthy volunteers or disease-affected patients who are initially exposed to a
single dose and then multiple doses of the product candidate. The primary purpose of these clinical trials is to assess the metabolism,
pharmacologic action, tolerability and safety of the drug.
Phase 2 clinical trials involve studies in disease-affected patients to determine the dose required to produce the desired benefits. At the same
time, safety and further pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information is collected, possible adverse effects and safety risks are
identified, and a preliminary evaluation of efficacy is conducted.
Phase 3 clinical trials generally involve a large number of patients at multiple sites and are designed to provide the data necessary to
demonstrate the effectiveness of the product for its intended use, its
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safety in use and to establish the overall benefit/risk relationship of the product and provide an adequate basis for product approval. These
trials may include comparisons with placebo and/or other comparator treatments. The duration of treatment is often extended to mimic the
actual use of a product during marketing.
Post-approval trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These trials are used to gain
additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication. In certain instances, the FDA may mandate the performance of
Phase 4 clinical trials as a condition of approval of an NDA or BLA.
Progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials, among other information, must be submitted at least annually to the FDA and written IND
safety reports must be submitted to the FDA and the investigators for serious and unexpected suspected adverse events, findings from other studies
suggesting a significant risk to humans exposed to the drug or biologic, findings from animal or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk for human
volunteers and any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure.
Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, if at all. The FDA or the sponsor may
suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects or patients are being exposed to an
unacceptable health risk. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in
accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the drug or biologic has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients. Additionally, some clinical
trials are overseen by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical trial sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board or
committee. This group provides authorization for whether a trial may move forward at designated checkpoints based on access to certain data from the trial.
Concurrent with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal studies and also must develop additional information about the chemistry and
physical characteristics of the drug or biologic as well as finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with
cGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product and, among other things,
companies must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality, and purity of the final product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be
selected and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that our product candidates do not undergo unacceptable deterioration over their
shelf life.
NDA/BLA Review Process
Following completion of the clinical trials, data is analyzed to assess whether the investigational product is safe and effective for the proposed
indicated use or uses. The results of preclinical studies and clinical trials are then submitted to the FDA as part of an NDA or BLA, along with proposed
labeling, chemistry and manufacturing information to ensure product quality and other relevant data. In short, the NDA or BLA is a request for approval to
market the drug or biologic for one or more specified indications and must contain proof of safety and efficacy for a drug or safety, purity, and potency for
a biologic. The application may include both negative and ambiguous results of preclinical studies and clinical trials, as well as positive findings. Data may
come from company-sponsored clinical trials intended to test the safety and efficacy of a product’s use or from a number of alternative sources, including
studies initiated by investigators. To support marketing approval, the data submitted must be sufficient in quality and quantity to establish the safety and
efficacy of the investigational product to the satisfaction of FDA. FDA approval of an NDA or BLA must be obtained before a drug or biologic may be
marketed in the United States.
Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), as amended, each NDA or BLA must be accompanied by a user fee. FDA adjusts the PDUFA
user fees on an annual basis. According to the FDA’s 2024 fee schedule for prescription drug user fees, which became effective on October 1, 2023, and
will remain in effect through September 30, 2024, the user fee for an application requiring clinical data, such as an NDA or BLA, is approximately $4.0
million. PDUFA also imposes an annual program fee for each marketed human drug or biologic ($416,734 in 2024) and an annual establishment fee on
facilities used to manufacture prescription drugs and biologics. Fee waivers or reductions are available in certain circumstances, including a waiver of the
application fee for the first application filed by a small business. Additionally, no user fees are assessed on NDAs or BLAs for products designated as
orphan drugs, unless the product also includes a non-orphan indication.
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The FDA reviews all submitted NDAs and BLAs before it accepts them for filing, and may request additional information rather than accepting the
NDA or BLA for filing. The FDA must make a decision on accepting an NDA or BLA for filing within 60 days of receipt. Once the submission is accepted
for filing, the FDA begins an in-depth review of the NDA or BLA. Under the goals and policies agreed to by the FDA under PDUFA, the FDA has 10
months, from the filing date, in which to complete its initial review of a new molecular-entity NDA or original BLA and respond to the applicant, and six
months from the filing date of a new molecular-entity NDA or original BLA designated for priority review. The FDA does not always meet its PDUFA
goal dates for standard and priority NDAs or BLAs, and the review process is often extended by FDA requests for additional information or clarification.
Before approving an NDA or BLA, the FDA will conduct a pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facilities for the new product to determine
whether they comply with cGMP requirements. The FDA will not approve the product unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities
are in compliance with cGMP requirements and adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. The FDA also may
audit data from clinical trials to ensure compliance with GCP requirements. Additionally, the FDA may refer applications for novel drug products or drug
products which present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory committee, typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for
review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions, if any. The FDA is not bound by
recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations when making decisions on approval. The FDA likely will reanalyze
the clinical trial data, which could result in extensive discussions between the FDA and the applicant during the review process. After the FDA evaluates an
NDA or BLA, it will issue an approval letter or a Complete Response Letter. An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the drug with specific
prescribing information for specific indications. A Complete Response Letter indicates that the review cycle of the application is complete, and the
application will not be approved in its present form. A Complete Response Letter usually describes all of the specific deficiencies in the NDA or BLA
identified by the FDA. The Complete Response Letter may require additional clinical data, additional pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial(s) and/or other
significant and time-consuming requirements related to clinical trials, preclinical studies or manufacturing. If a Complete Response Letter is issued, the
applicant may either resubmit the NDA or BLA, addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application. Even if such data and
information are submitted, the FDA may decide that the NDA or BLA does not satisfy the criteria for approval. Data obtained from clinical trials are not
always conclusive and the FDA may interpret data differently than we interpret the same data.
Orphan Drugs
Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug or biological product intended to treat a rare disease or condition,
which is generally a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or more than 200,000 individuals in the United
States and for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making the product available in the United States for this type of
disease or condition will be recovered from sales of the product.
Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting an NDA or BLA. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the identity of the
therapeutic agent and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA. Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in or shorten the
duration of the regulatory review and approval process.
If a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for a particular active ingredient for the disease for which
it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity. This means that the FDA may not approve any other NDA or BLA application to
market the same drug or biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances such as a showing of clinical superiority to the
product with orphan exclusivity, if FDA revokes the orphan drug designation, or if FDA finds that the holder of the orphan exclusivity has not assured the
availability of sufficient quantities of the orphan product to meet the needs of patients with the disease or condition for which the drug was designated.
Latozinemab has been granted orphan drug designation by FDA for treatment of FTD, and AL101 also had orphan drug designation until we
withdrew the IND for FTD and decided to pursue larger indications, such as AD and PD, for that product candidate. Despite latozinemab's orphan drug
designation, the FDA can still approve other drugs that have a different active ingredient for use in treating FTD. Furthermore, orphan drug exclusivity
does not
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prevent the FDA from approving another marketing application for the same drug product for a different indication before the expiration of the orphan
exclusivity period. Orphan drug exclusivity also could block the approval of one of our products for seven years if a competitor obtains approval before we
do for the same product, as defined by the FDA, for the same indication we are seeking approval, or if a product candidate is determined to be contained
within the scope of the competitor’s product for the same indication or disease. If one of our products designated as an orphan drug receives marketing
approval for an indication for which it has not been granted orphan drug designation, it will not have orphan drug exclusivity in that non-orphan indication.
Orphan drug status in the European Union has similar, but not identical, requirements and benefits.
In litigation in 2021, a court disagreed with the FDA’s longstanding position that orphan drug exclusivity only applies to the approved use or
indication within an eligible disease, and not to all uses or indications within the entire designated disease or condition. This appellate court decision
created uncertainty in the application of orphan drug exclusivity. In January 2023, the FDA published a notice in the Federal Register to clarify that while
the agency complies with the applicable court ruling, it intends to continue tying the scope of orphan-drug exclusivity to the uses or indications for which a
drug is approved. This permits other sponsors to obtain approval of a drug for new uses or indications within the same orphan designated disease or
condition that has not yet been approved. It is unclear how future litigation, legislation, agency decisions, and administrative actions will impact the scope
of orphan drug exclusivity.
Expedited Development and Review Programs
The FDA has a fast track program that is intended to expedite or facilitate the process for reviewing new drugs and biologics that meet certain
criteria. Specifically, new drugs and biologics are eligible for fast track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition and
preclinical or clinical data demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the condition. Fast track designation applies to both the product
and the specific indication for which it is being studied. The sponsor can request the FDA to designate the product for fast track status any time before
receiving NDA or BLA approval, but ideally no later than the pre-NDA or pre-BLA meeting.
Any product submitted to the FDA for marketing, including under a fast track program, may be eligible for other types of FDA programs intended to
expedite development and review, such as priority review and accelerated approval. Any product is eligible for priority review if it treats a serious or life-
threatening condition and, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety and effectiveness compared to available therapies.
Additionally, a drug or biologic may be eligible for designation as a Breakthrough Therapy if the product is intended, alone or in combination with
one or more other drugs or biologics, to treat a serious or life-threatening condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may
demonstrate substantial improvement over currently approved therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints. Under the Breakthrough Therapy
program, the sponsor of a new product candidate may request that the FDA designate the product candidate for a specific indication as a Breakthrough
Therapy concurrent with, or after, the filing of the IND for the product candidate. The benefits of Breakthrough Therapy designation include the same
benefits as fast track designation, plus intensive guidance from the FDA to ensure an efficient drug development program. The FDA must determine if the
product candidate qualifies for Breakthrough Therapy designation within 60 days of receipt of the sponsor’s request. The receipt of a Breakthrough
Therapy designation for a drug may not result in a faster development process, review or approval compared to drugs considered for approval under
conventional FDA procedures, and it would not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. The FDA may later decide that the product candidate no longer
meets the conditions for qualification or it may decide that the time period for FDA review or approval will not be shortened. Fast track designation,
priority review, accelerated approval and Breakthrough Therapy designation do not change the standards for FDA approval, but may expedite product
development or approval process.
A product may also be eligible for accelerated approval, if it treats a serious or life-threatening condition and generally provides a meaningful
advantage over available therapies. In addition, it must demonstrate an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit or
on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality (IMM), which is reasonably likely to predict an effect on IMM
or other clinical benefit. As a condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a drug or biologic receiving accelerated approval perform
adequate and well-controlled post-marketing clinical trials. If the FDA concludes that a drug or biologic shown to be effective can be safely used only if
distribution or use is restricted, it may require such post-marketing restrictions as it deems necessary to assure safe use of the product. The Food and Drug
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Omnibus Reform Act (FDORA) reformed the accelerated approval pathway, such as requiring the FDA to specify conditions for post-approval study
requirements and setting forth procedures for the FDA to withdraw a product on an expedited basis for non-compliance with post-approval requirements. It
is unclear how these proposals, future policy changes, and changes in FDA regulations will impact new drug applications in the treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease and our clinical development programs.
Abbreviated Licensure Pathway of Biological Products as Biosimilar or Interchangeable
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or ACA, signed into law in 2010, includes the BPCIA, which created an abbreviated approval
pathway for biological products shown to be highly similar to an FDA-licensed reference biological product. The BPCIA attempts to minimize duplicative
testing, and thereby lower development costs and increase patient access to affordable treatments. An application for licensure of a biosimilar product must
include information demonstrating biosimilarity based upon the following, unless the FDA determines otherwise:
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•
•
•
o
o
o
o
analytical studies demonstrating that the proposed biosimilar product is highly similar to the approved product notwithstanding minor
differences in clinically inactive components;
animal studies (including the assessment of toxicity); and
a clinical trial or trials (including the assessment of immunogenicity and pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic) sufficient to demonstrate
safety, purity, and potency in one or more conditions for which the reference product is licensed and intended to be used.
In addition, an application must include information demonstrating that:
the proposed biosimilar product and reference product utilize the same mechanism of action for the condition(s) of use prescribed,
recommended or suggested in the proposed labeling, but only to the extent the mechanism(s) of action are known for the reference
product;
the condition or conditions of use prescribed, recommended or suggested in the labeling for the proposed biosimilar product have been
previously approved for the reference product;
the route of administration, the dosage form and the strength of the proposed biosimilar product are the same as those for the reference
product; and
the facility in which the biological product is manufactured, processed, packed or held meets standards designed to assure that the
biological product continues to be safe, pure, and potent.
Biosimilarity means that the biological product is highly similar to the reference product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive
components; and that there are no clinically meaningful differences between the biological product and the reference product in terms of the safety, purity,
and potency of the product. In addition, the law provides for a designation of “interchangeability” between the reference and biosimilar products, whereby
the biosimilar may be substituted for the reference product without the intervention of the healthcare provider who prescribed the reference product. The
higher standard of interchangeability must be demonstrated by information sufficient to show that:
•
•
•
the proposed product is biosimilar to the reference product;
the proposed product is expected to produce the same clinical result as the reference product in any given patient; and
for a product that is administered more than once to an individual, the risk to the patient in terms of safety or diminished efficacy of
alternating or switching between the biosimilar and the reference product is no greater than the risk of using the reference product without
such alternation or switch.
FDA approval is required before a biosimilar may be marketed in the United States. However, complexities associated with the large and intricate
structures of biological products and the process by which such products are manufactured pose significant hurdles to the FDA’s implementation of the law
that are still being worked out by the FDA. For example, the FDA has discretion over the kind and amount of scientific evidence—laboratory, preclinical
and/or clinical—required to demonstrate biosimilarity to a licensed biological product.
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The FDA intends to consider the totality of the evidence provided by a sponsor to support a demonstration of biosimilarity and recommends that
sponsors use a stepwise approach in the development of their biosimilar products. Biosimilar product applications thus may not be required to duplicate the
entirety of preclinical and clinical testing used to establish the underlying safety and effectiveness of the reference product. However, the FDA may refuse
to approve a biosimilar application if there is insufficient information to show that the active ingredients are the same or to demonstrate that any impurities
or differences in active ingredients do not affect the safety, purity, or potency of the biosimilar product. In addition, as with BLAs, biosimilar product
applications will not be approved unless the product is manufactured in facilities designed to assure and preserve the biological product’s safety, purity, and
potency.
The submission of a biosimilar application does not guarantee that the FDA will accept the application for filing and review, as the FDA may refuse
to accept applications that it finds are insufficiently complete. The FDA will treat a biosimilar application or supplement as incomplete if, among other
reasons, any applicable user fees assessed under the Biosimilar User Fee Act of 2012 have not been paid. In addition, the FDA may accept an application
for filing but deny approval on the basis that the sponsor has not demonstrated biosimilarity, in which case the sponsor may choose to conduct further
analytical, preclinical or clinical studies and submit a BLA for licensure as a new biological product.
The timing of final FDA approval of a biosimilar for commercial distribution depends on a variety of factors, including whether the manufacturer of
the branded product is entitled to one or more statutory exclusivity periods, during which time the FDA is prohibited from approving any products that are
biosimilar to the branded product. The FDA cannot approve a biosimilar application for 12 years from the date of first licensure of the reference product.
Additionally, a biosimilar product sponsor may not submit an application for four years from the date of first licensure of the reference product. A reference
product may also be entitled to exclusivity under other statutory provisions. For example, a reference product designated for a rare disease or condition (an
orphan drug) may be entitled to seven years of exclusivity, in which case no product that is biosimilar to the reference product may be approved until either
the end of the twelve-year period provided under the biosimilarity statute or the end of the seven-year orphan drug exclusivity period, whichever occurs
later. In certain circumstances, a regulatory exclusivity period can extend beyond the life of a patent, and thus block biosimilarity applications from being
approved on or after the patent expiration date. In addition, the FDA may under certain circumstances extend the exclusivity period for the reference
product by an additional six months if the FDA requests, and the manufacturer undertakes, studies on the effect of its product in children, a so-called
pediatric extension.
The first biological product determined to be interchangeable with a branded product for any condition of use is also entitled to a period of
exclusivity, during which time the FDA may not determine that another product is interchangeable with the reference product for any condition of use. This
exclusivity period extends until the earlier of: one year after the first commercial marketing of the first interchangeable product; 18 months after resolution
of a patent infringement against the applicant that submitted the application for the first interchangeable product, based on a final court decision regarding
all of the patents in the litigation or dismissal of the litigation with or without prejudice; 42 months after approval of the first interchangeable product, if a
patent infringement suit against the applicant that submitted the application for the first interchangeable product is still ongoing; or 18 months after
approval of the first interchangeable product if the applicant that submitted the application for the first interchangeable product has not been sued.
Post-Approval Requirements
Following approval of a new product, the manufacturer and the approved product are subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among
other things, monitoring and record-keeping requirements, requirements to report adverse experiences and comply with promotion and advertising
requirements, which include restrictions on promoting drugs for unapproved uses or patient populations, known as “off-label use”, and limitations on
industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities. Although physicians may prescribe legally available drugs for off-label uses, manufacturers may
not market or promote such uses. Prescription drug promotional materials must be submitted to the FDA in conjunction with their first use. Further, if there
are any modifications to the drug or biologic, including changes in indications, labeling or manufacturing processes or facilities, the applicant may be
required to submit and obtain FDA approval of a new NDA/BLA or NDA/BLA supplement, which may require the development of additional data or
preclinical studies and clinical trials.
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The FDA may also place other conditions on approvals including the requirement for REMS, to assure the safe use of the product. A REMS could
include medication guides, physician communication plans or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and
other risk minimization tools. Any of these limitations on approval or marketing could restrict the commercial promotion, distribution, prescription or
dispensing of products. Product approvals may be withdrawn for non-compliance with regulatory standards or if problems occur following initial
marketing.
The FDA may withdraw approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product
reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or
with manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety
information; imposition of post-market studies or clinical studies to assess new safety risks or imposition of distribution restrictions or other restrictions
under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:
•
•
•
•
•
•
restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market, or product recalls;
fines, warning letters, or holds on post-approval clinical studies;
refusal of the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications;
applications, or suspension or revocation of product license approvals;
product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; or
injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
The FDA strictly regulates marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of products that are placed on the market. Drugs and biologics may be
promoted only for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the
laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to
significant liability.
Other U.S. Regulatory Matters
Manufacturing, sales, promotion and other activities following product approval are also subject to regulation by numerous regulatory authorities in
the United States in addition to the FDA, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, other divisions of the Department of Health and
Human Services, the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade
Commission, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and state and local governments.
For example, in the United States, sales, marketing and scientific and educational programs also must comply with state and federal fraud and abuse
laws. These laws include the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which makes it illegal for any person, including a prescription drug manufacturer (or a party
acting on its behalf), to knowingly and willfully solicit, receive, offer or pay any remuneration that is intended to induce or reward referrals, including the
purchase, recommendation, order or prescription of a particular drug, for which payment may be made under a federal healthcare program, such as
Medicare or Medicaid. Violations of this law are punishable by up to five years in prison, criminal fines, administrative civil money penalties and exclusion
from participation in federal healthcare programs. Moreover, the ACA provides that the government may assert that a claim including items or services
resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act.
Pricing and rebate programs must comply with the Medicaid rebate requirements of the U.S. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 and more
recent requirements in the ACA. If products are made available to authorized users of the Federal Supply Schedule of the General Services Administration,
additional laws and requirements apply. Products must meet applicable child-resistant packaging requirements under the U.S. Poison Prevention Packaging
Act. Manufacturing, sales, promotion and other activities also are potentially subject to federal and state consumer protection and unfair competition laws.
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The distribution of biologic and pharmaceutical products is subject to additional requirements and regulations, including extensive record-keeping,
licensing, storage and security requirements intended to prevent the unauthorized sale of pharmaceutical products.
The failure to comply with any of these laws or regulatory requirements subjects firms to possible legal or regulatory action. Depending on the
circumstances, failure to meet applicable regulatory requirements can result in criminal prosecution, fines or other penalties, injunctions, requests for recall,
seizure of products, total or partial suspension of production, denial or withdrawal of product approvals or refusal to allow a firm to enter into supply
contracts, including government contracts. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to
incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business. Prohibitions or restrictions on sales or
withdrawal of future products marketed by us could materially affect our business in an adverse way.
Changes in regulations, statutes or the interpretation of existing regulations and statutes could impact our business in the future by requiring, for
example: changes to our manufacturing arrangements; additions or modifications to product labeling; the recall or discontinuation of our products; or
additional record-keeping requirements. If any such changes were to be imposed, they could adversely affect the operation of our business. Likewise, the
interpretation of federal law by regulatory agencies may change if judicial deference to such agencies’ interpretation is limited or eliminated. The judiciary
may change the agencies’ interpretation of federal law in a way that has a negative impact on the operation of our business.
U.S. Patent-Term Restoration and Marketing Exclusivity
Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of FDA approval of any future product candidates, some of our U.S. patents may be eligible for
limited patent term extension under the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits restoration of the patent term of up to five years as
compensation for patent term lost during product development and FDA regulatory review process. Patent-term restoration, however, cannot extend the
remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the product’s approval date. The patent-term restoration period is generally one-half the time
between the effective date of an IND and the submission date of an NDA or BLA plus the time between the submission date of an NDA or BLA and the
approval of that application, except that the review period is reduced by any time during which the applicant failed to exercise due diligence. Only one
patent applicable to an approved drug is eligible for the extension and the application for the extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of the
patent. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in consultation with the FDA, reviews and approves the application for any patent term
extension or restoration. In the future, we may apply for restoration of patent term for our currently owned or licensed patents to add patent life beyond its
current expiration date, depending on the expected length of the clinical trials and other factors involved in the filing of the relevant NDA or BLA.
Market exclusivity provisions under the FDCA also can delay the submission or the approval of certain applications. The FDCA provides a five-
year period of non-patent marketing exclusivity within the United States to the first applicant to gain approval of a NDA for a new chemical entity. A drug
is a new chemical entity if the FDA has not previously approved any other new drug containing the same active moiety, which is the molecule or ion
responsible for the action of the drug substance. During the exclusivity period, the FDA may not accept for review an abbreviated new drug application
(ANDA), or a 505(b)(2) NDA submitted by another company for another version of such drug where the applicant does not own or have a legal right of
reference to all the data required for approval. However, an application may be submitted after four years if it contains a certification of patent invalidity or
non-infringement. The FDCA also provides three years of marketing exclusivity for a NDA, 505(b)(2) NDA or supplement to an existing NDA if new
clinical investigations, other than bioavailability studies, that were conducted or sponsored by the applicant are deemed by the FDA to be essential to the
approval of the application, for example, new indications, dosages or strengths of an existing drug. This three-year exclusivity covers only the conditions of
use associated with the new clinical investigations and does not prohibit the FDA from approving ANDAs for drugs containing the original active agent.
Five-year and three-year exclusivity will not delay the submission or approval of a full NDA. However, an applicant submitting a full NDA would be
required to conduct or obtain a right of reference to all of the preclinical studies and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials necessary to demonstrate
safety and effectiveness.
A reference biological product is granted 12 years of data exclusivity from the time of first licensure of the product, and the FDA will not accept an
application for a biosimilar or interchangeable product based on the
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reference biological product until four years after the date of first licensure of the reference product. “First licensure” typically means the initial date the
particular product at issue was licensed in the United States. Date of first licensure does not include the date of licensure of (and a new period of exclusivity
is not available for) a biological product if the licensure is for a supplement for the biological product or for a subsequent application by the same sponsor
or manufacturer of the biological product (or licensor, predecessor in interest or other related entity) for a change (not including a modification to the
structure of the biological product) that results in a new indication, route of administration, dosing schedule, dosage form, delivery system, delivery device
or strength or for a modification to the structure of the biological product that does not result in a change in safety, purity, or potency. Therefore, one must
determine whether a new product includes a modification to the structure of a previously licensed product that results in a change in safety, purity, or
potency to assess whether the licensure of the new product is a first licensure that triggers its own period of exclusivity. Whether a subsequent application,
if approved, warrants exclusivity as the “first licensure” of a biological product is determined on a case-by-case basis with data submitted by the sponsor.
European Union Drug Development
Similar to the United States, the various phases of preclinical and clinical research in the European Union are subject to significant regulatory
controls. Although the EU Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC has sought to harmonize the EU clinical trials regulatory framework, setting out common
rules for the control and authorization of clinical trials in the EU, the EU Member States have transposed and applied the provisions of the Directive
differently. This has led to significant variations in the member state regimes. Under the current regime, before a clinical trial can be initiated it must be
approved in each of the EU countries where the trial is to be conducted by two distinct bodies: the National Competent Authority (NCA), and one or more
Ethics Committees (ECs). Under the current regime all suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions to the investigated drug that occur during the
clinical trial have to be reported to the NCA and ECs of the Member State where they occurred.
The Clinical Trials Regulation EU No 536/2014, which replaced the Clinical Trials Directive and entered into application on January 31, 2022, is
intended to simplify the current rules for clinical trial authorization and is aimed at harmonizing and streamlining clinical-trial authorization, simplifying
adverse-event reporting procedures, improving the supervision of clinical trials and increasing their transparency.
European Union Drug Review and Approval
In the European Economic Area (EEA), which is comprised of the 27 Member States of the European Union (including Norway and excluding
Croatia), Iceland and Liechtenstein, medicinal products can only be commercialized after obtaining a Marketing Authorization (MA). There are two types
of marketing authorizations.
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The Community MA is issued by the European Commission through the Centralized Procedure, based on the opinion of the Committee for
Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), of the EMA, and is valid throughout the entire territory of the EEA. The Centralized
Procedure is mandatory for certain types of products, such as biotechnology medicinal products, orphan medicinal products, advanced-
therapy medicines such as gene-therapy, somatic cell-therapy or tissue-engineered medicines and medicinal products containing a new
active substance indicated for the treatment of HIV, AIDS, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, auto-immune and other immune
dysfunctions and viral diseases. The Centralized Procedure is optional for products containing a new active substance not yet authorized in
the EEA, or for products that constitute a significant therapeutic, scientific or technical innovation or which are in the interest of public
health in the EU.
National MAs, which are issued by the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA and only cover their respective territory, are
available for products not falling within the mandatory scope of the Centralized Procedure. Where a product has already been authorized
for marketing in a Member State of the EEA, this National MA can be recognized in another Member States through the Mutual
Recognition Procedure. If the product has not received a National MA in any Member State at the time of application, it can be approved
simultaneously in various Member States through the Decentralized Procedure. Under the Decentralized Procedure an identical dossier is
submitted to the competent authorities of each of the Member States in which the MA is sought, one of which is selected by the applicant as
the Reference Member State (RMS). The competent authority of the RMS prepares a draft assessment report, a draft summary of the
product characteristics (SPC), and a draft of the labeling and
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package leaflet, which are sent to the other Member States (referred to as the Member States Concerned) for their approval. If the Member
States Concerned raise no objections, based on a potential serious risk to public health, to the assessment, SPC, labeling or packaging
proposed by the RMS, the product is subsequently granted a national MA in all the Member States (i.e., in the RMS and the Member States
Concerned).
Under the above described procedures, before granting the MA, the EMA or the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA make an
assessment of the risk-benefit balance of the product on the basis of scientific criteria concerning its quality, safety and efficacy.
Coverage and Reimbursement
Sales of our products will depend, in part, on the extent to which our products will be covered by third-party payors, such as government health
programs, commercial insurance, and managed healthcare organizations. In the United States, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for drug
or biological products exists. Accordingly, decisions regarding the extent of coverage and amount of reimbursement to be provided for any of our products
will be made on a payor-by-payor basis. As a result, the coverage determination process is often a time-consuming and costly process that will require us to
provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our products to each payor separately, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement
will be obtained.
The United States government, state legislatures, and foreign governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost containment
programs to limit the growth of government-paid healthcare costs, including price-controls, restrictions on reimbursement, and requirements for
substitution of generic products for branded prescription drugs. For example, the ACA contains provisions that may reduce the profitability of drug
products through increased rebates for drugs reimbursed by Medicaid programs, extension of Medicaid rebates to Medicaid managed care plans, mandatory
discounts for certain Medicare Part D beneficiaries and annual fees based on pharmaceutical companies’ share of sales to federal health care programs.
Adoption of general controls and measures, coupled with the tightening of restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could
limit payments for pharmaceutical drugs.
The Medicaid Drug Rebate Program requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to enter into and have in effect a national rebate agreement with the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services as a condition for states to receive federal matching funds for the manufacturer’s outpatient
drugs furnished to Medicaid patients. The ACA made several changes to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, including increasing pharmaceutical
manufacturers’ rebate liability by raising the minimum basic Medicaid rebate on most branded prescription drugs from 15.1% of average manufacturer
price (AMP), to 23.1% of AMP and adding a new rebate calculation for “line extensions” (i.e., new formulations, such as extended release formulations) of
solid oral dosage forms of branded products, as well as potentially impacting their rebate liability by modifying the statutory definition of AMP. The ACA
also expanded the universe of Medicaid utilization subject to drug rebates by requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay rebates on Medicaid managed
care utilization and by enlarging the population potentially eligible for Medicaid drug benefits. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have
proposed to expand Medicaid rebate liability to the territories of the United States as well.
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) established the Medicare Part D program to provide a
voluntary prescription drug benefit to Medicare beneficiaries. Under Part D, Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in prescription drug plans offered by private
entities that provide coverage of outpatient prescription drugs. Unlike Medicare Part A and B, Part D coverage is not standardized. While all Medicare drug
plans must give at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare, Part D prescription drug plan sponsors are not required to pay for all covered Part D
drugs, and each drug plan can develop its own drug formulary that identifies which drugs it will cover and at what tier or level. However, Part D
prescription drug formularies must include drugs within each therapeutic category and class of covered Part D drugs, though not necessarily all the drugs in
each category or class. Any formulary used by a Part D prescription drug plan must be developed and reviewed by a pharmacy and therapeutic committee.
Government payment for some of the costs of prescription drugs may increase demand for products for which we receive marketing approval. However,
any negotiated prices for our products covered by a Part D prescription drug plan likely will be lower than the prices we might otherwise obtain. Moreover,
while the MMA applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in
setting their own payment rates. Any
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reduction in payment that results from the MMA may result in a similar reduction in payments from non-governmental payors.
For a drug product to receive federal reimbursement under the Medicaid or Medicare Part B programs or to be sold directly to U.S. government
agencies, the manufacturer must extend discounts to entities eligible to participate in the 340B drug pricing program. The required 340B discount on a
given product is calculated based on the AMP and Medicaid rebate amounts reported by the manufacturer.
There has been increasing legislative and enforcement interest in the United States with respect to specialty drug pricing practices, including U.S.
Congressional inquiries and proposed federal and state legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to drug pricing, reduce the cost
of prescription drugs under Medicare, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform government program
reimbursement methodologies for drugs. At the federal level, from 2016-2020, HHS and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued
various rules that were expected to impact, among others, price reductions from pharmaceutical manufacturers to plan sponsors under Part D, fee
arrangements between pharmacy benefit managers and manufacturers, manufacturer price reporting requirements under the Medicaid Drug Rebate
Program, including regulations that affect manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs subject to pharmacy benefit manager accumulator programs
and Best Price reporting related to certain value-based purchasing arrangements. Multiple lawsuits have been brought against the HHS challenging various
aspects of these rules. Some rules have since been delayed in their implementation or have been rescinded.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 eliminated the statutory cap on Medicaid Drug Rebate Program rebates that manufacturers pay to state
Medicaid programs. Elimination of this cap may require pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay more in rebates than they receive on the sale of approved
products, which could have a material impact on our business.
In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which includes prescription drug provisions that have significant implications
for the pharmaceutical industry and Medicare beneficiaries, including allowing the federal government to negotiate a maximum fair price for certain high-
priced single source Medicare drugs, imposing penalties and excise tax for manufacturers that fail to comply with the drug price negotiation requirements,
requiring inflation rebates for all Medicare Part B and Part D drugs, with limited exceptions, if their drug prices increase faster than inflation, and
redesigning Medicare Part D to reduce out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for beneficiaries, among other changes. In March 2023, the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its first guidance on how negotiations will be conducted, starting in 2026 for high expenditure drugs as
determined and selected by Health and Human Services. In June 2023, CMS issued a revised guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
under the Inflation Reduction Act. Various industry stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
of America, have initiated lawsuits against the federal government asserting that the price negotiation provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act are
unconstitutional. The impact of these judicial challenges as well as future legislative, executive, and administrative actions and agency rules implemented
by the government on us and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole is unclear. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare
reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our product candidates if approved.
Further, many states have proposed or enacted legislation, administrative actions, and government programs that seek to indirectly or directly
regulate pharmaceutical drug pricing, such as by requiring biopharmaceutical manufacturers to publicly report proprietary pricing information or to place a
maximum price ceiling on pharmaceutical products purchased by state agencies. Recently, the FDA authorized the state of Florida to import certain
prescription drugs from Canada for a period of two years to help reduce drug costs, provided that Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration meets
the requirements set forth by the FDA. Other states may follow Florida. Additionally, a number of states are considering or have recently enacted state drug
price transparency and reporting laws that could substantially increase our compliance burdens and expose us to greater liability under such state laws once
we begin commercialization after obtaining regulatory approval for any of our products candidates. Such initiatives, state drug importation programs, and
legislation may affect the prices we may obtain for any of our product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval or the demand for any such
product candidate, if approved. The full impact of the state importation program on our industry and our business is unclear.
As noted above, the marketability of any products for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale may suffer if the government and
third-party payors fail to provide adequate coverage and reimbursement. An increasing emphasis on cost containment measures in the United States has
increased and we expect will continue to
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increase the pressure on pharmaceutical pricing. Coverage policies and third-party reimbursement rates may change at any time. Even if favorable coverage
and reimbursement status is attained for one or more products for which we receive regulatory approval, less favorable coverage policies and
reimbursement rates may be implemented in the future.
In addition, in most foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a drug must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements
governing drug pricing and reimbursement vary widely from country to country. For example, the European Union provides options for its member states
to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal
products for human use. A member state may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect
controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls
or reimbursement limitations for pharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products.
Historically, products launched in the European Union do not follow price structures of the United States and generally prices tend to be significantly
lower.
Scientific Advisory Board
We have assembled a highly qualified scientific advisory board comprised of advisors who have, collectively, deep expertise in neurodegenerative
diseases, genomics, protein engineering, drug development, and drug discovery as well as translational medicine. Our scientists work in collaboration with
these advisors to identify new disease targets, develop a biomarker strategy, and accelerate discovery and development.
Name
Adam Boxer, M.D., Ph.D.
Stephen Hauser, M.D.
Michael Heneka, M.D.
Martin Kampmann, Ph.D.
Richard Scheller, Ph.D.
Thomas Christian Südhof, M.D., Ph.D.
Human Capital Resources
Affiliated Entity
Department of Neurology at University of California, San Francisco
Department of Neurology at University of California, San Francisco
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine at University of Luxembourg
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco Weill
Institute for Neurosciences
National Academy of Sciences and National Institute of Medicine
Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Neurosurgery at Stanford University
Our human capital resources are a key factor in our ability to achieve our mission. We believe that our future success depends, in part, on our ability
to continue to identify, recruit, retain, incentivize, and integrate our employees, advisors, and consultants.
Employee Profile
As of December 31, 2023, we had 244 full-time employees, 76% of whom were engaged in research and development activities. The majority of our
employees work out of our headquarters location in South San Francisco; we have a second, smaller location – Anderson-Simonsen Labs – located in
Newark, CA; and the remainder of our team members work remotely. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or party to a collective
bargaining agreement.
Diversity and Inclusion
Our employees represent a broad range of backgrounds and bring a wide array of perspectives and experiences to the company. We are committed to
building an open, diverse, and inclusive environment for everyone, as we believe this fosters greater innovation and furthers our mission. We have made
efforts to ensure that our job postings, hiring process, and people programs are unbiased and are fair and equitable to all. As of December 31, 2023,
approximately 62% of our workforce, 63% of Research & Development, and 58% of people managers were female. As of December 31, 2023, ethnic or
racial minorities represented approximately 53% of our workforce, 56% of Research & Development, and 43% of our people managers.
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We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of or retaliation against our employees, job applicants, contractors, consultants, interns, or
volunteers, and we have a longstanding anti-harassment policy. We have created multiple safe avenues for employees to submit concerns, including an
anonymous hotline that goes directly to our head of compliance. We have a formal process and policy for the submission and treatment of complaints.
Employee Compensation and Benefits
The principal purpose of our compensation program is to attract, retain, and reward employees who share our vision and are deeply connected to our
mission. We achieve this purpose through the granting of cash-based and stock-based compensation awards and the provision of meaningful benefits. Our
compensation and benefits include:
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Competitive employee base salaries and short-term incentive bonus opportunity;
Stock-based compensation awards to encourage an ownership mindset and align employees to Alector’s long-term success;
Retirement savings options and matching contributions;
Healthcare and other benefits for all full-time employees and their dependents, including dedicated mental health, fertility, and caregiving
programs;
Generous paid time off for all full-time employees; and
Parental leave and other leave options available to all employees
Employee Growth and Development
We are committed to employee growth and development, and we support this in a variety of ways, including through a seminar program of visiting
academics, in-house training programs (for all employees and specifically for people managers to ensure quality management of their direct reports and
teams), and quarterly employee/manager check-ins to discuss career development goals and success. Additional opportunities are available to employees,
including opportunities to attend external conferences or receive training. We encourage ongoing feedback, improvement, and growth for our employees,
and we have incorporated those principles into our values, particularly the value “Embrace Feedback – and a growth mindset.”
Employee Wellness, Health, and Safety
The well-being of Alector’s employees is critical to our business success, and we have designed our health and safety programs to reflect our
commitment to a safe working environment that is in-line with regulatory standards. We mandate Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) training for all
new employees and annual refresher training to ensure awareness of current policy and procedures. Additionally, we require job-specific technical and
safety training for employees in laboratories and specialized work environments. We conduct internal safety inspections to ensure a continued safe working
environment and to monitor employee adherence to policies and procedures. In addition, we engage with third-party EH&S providers to review our
programs and ensure compliance with regulatory health and safety standards.
Flexible Work Options
The global pandemic taught us that great work can be accomplished in a variety of work environments. We embraced the principle of flexibility and
moved to a hybrid working model for all whose roles allow for it. We empower our people to deliver great results by giving team members choice and
flexibility about their work environment where possible, so that our employees can contribute productively.
Corporate Information
We were initially formed as a limited liability company in Delaware in May 2013 under the name Alector LLC and completed our restructuring to a
Delaware corporation in October 2017 under the name Alector, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at 131 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 600,
South San Francisco, California 94080. Our telephone number is 415-231-5660. Our website address is www.alector.com. Information contained on, or that
can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other filings we make with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
We make available on or through our website certain reports and amendments to those reports that we file with or furnish to the SEC in accordance
with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act).
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These include our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and our current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those
reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. We make this information available on or through our website free of
charge as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file the information with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
We use Alector, the Alector logo, and other marks as trademarks in the United States and other countries. This report contains references to our
trademarks and service marks and to those belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this report,
including logos, artwork, and other visual displays, may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate in any way
that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names. We
do not intend our use or display of other entities’ trade names, trademarks, or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of
us by, any other entity.
Channels for Disclosure of Information
Investors and others should note that we may announce material business and financial information to our investors using our investor relations
website (https://investors.alector.com), SEC filings, webcasts, press releases, corporate decks provided on our website, and conference calls. We use these
mediums, including our website, to communicate with our members and the public about our company, our products, and other issues. It is possible that the
information that we make available may be deemed to be material information. We therefore encourage our investors and others interested in our company
to review the information that we make available on our website.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other
information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our financial statements and the related notes and the section titled “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in our other public filings, in evaluating our business. The occurrence of any of the
events or developments described below could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects. In such an event, the
market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to
us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations and the market price of our common stock.
Summary of Risk Factors
Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that you should consider before investing in our company, as more fully described below.
The principal factors and uncertainties that make investing in our company risky include, among others:
• We are in various stages of drug development and have a limited operating history and no products approved for commercial sale, which may
make it difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future success and viability.
• We have incurred significant net losses in each year since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable
future.
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Drug development is a highly uncertain undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk.
• We will need to obtain substantial additional financing to complete the development and any commercialization of our product candidates, and a
failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate our
commercialization efforts, product development, or other operations.
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Due to the significant resources required for the development of our product candidates, and depending on our ability to access capital, we must
prioritize development of certain product candidates. Moreover, we may expend our limited resources on programs that do not yield a successful
product candidate or fail to capitalize on product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood
of success.
Research and development of biopharmaceutical products is inherently risky. Our business is heavily dependent on the successful development
of our product candidates, which are in various stages of preclinical and clinical development. We cannot give any assurance that any of our
product candidates will receive regulatory, including marketing, approval, which is necessary before they may be commercialized.
• We may not be successful in our efforts to continue to create a pipeline of product candidates from our research and drug discovery platform or
to develop commercially successful products. If we fail to successfully identify and develop additional product candidates from our research and
drug discovery platform, our commercial opportunity may be limited.
• We may not be successful in our efforts to carry out our obligations under our collaborations for our product development and research
programs; for instance, without limitation, we may not complete in a timely manner or at all our contractual obligations to GSK and AbbVie.
• We may not be successful in our efforts to obtain approval for additional or expanded indications for any product candidates that receive
approval for a given indication.
• We have concentrated a substantial portion of our research and development efforts on the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, a field that
has seen both limited success in drug development and evolving standards for regulatory approval. Further, our product candidates are based on
new approaches and novel technology, and we must identify and develop new biomarkers that are signs of a disease or condition and that can
measure impact on disease progression of our product candidates, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of product candidate
development and subsequent regulatory approval.
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• We may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials or may not be able to conduct or complete our clinical trials on the timelines we expect,
if at all.
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Our clinical trials may reveal significant adverse events, toxicities, or other side effects and may fail to demonstrate substantial evidence of the
safety and efficacy of our product candidates, which would prevent, delay, or limit the scope of regulatory approval and commercialization.
Our operations and financial results could be adversely impacted by the effects of worldwide economic conditions, including macroeconomic
downturns stemming from increased inflation, supply chain and other economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events.
• We are highly dependent on our key personnel, and if we are not successful in attracting, motivating, and retaining highly qualified personnel,
including as a result of layoffs and furloughs, pausing of recruiting efforts, or regrettable employee attrition, we may not be able to successfully
implement our business strategy.
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The market price of our common stock may continue to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses for investors and could negatively
impact our ability to conduct additional fundraising in the public markets.
Risks Related to Our Business, Financial Condition, and Capital Requirements
We are in various stages of drug development and have a limited operating history and no products approved for commercial sale, which may make it
difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future success and viability.
We are a clinical stage biotechnology company with a limited operating history, focused primarily on developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative
diseases, including FTD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS. We commenced operations in May 2013. To date, we have financed our
operations primarily through the sale of equity securities and upfront payments received in connection with our collaboration arrangements with AbbVie
and GSK. We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. Drug development is a highly
uncertain undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk. We are in Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials for one product candidate, latozinemab; we are
in a Phase 2 clinical trial for one product candidate, AL002; and we are in a Phase 2 clinical trial for AL101. In the third quarter of 2023, we inactivated the
IND for AL101 in FTD, given that we and GSK plan to develop AL101 for the potential treatment of larger indications, including Alzheimer’s disease and
Parkinson’s disease. We previously decided to close the Phase 1 clinical trial for our AL044 product candidate based on initial PK and tolerability data. We
inactivated the IND for AL044 in the third quarter of 2023. In addition, in 2022, AbbVie decided to terminate our CD33 collaboration program, after we
and AbbVie concluded that further development of AL003, the asset being developed under that program, was not warranted. To date, we have not
completed a pivotal clinical trial, obtained marketing approval for any product candidates, manufactured a commercial scale product, or arranged for a third
party to do so on our behalf, or conducted sales and marketing activities necessary for successful product commercialization. Our limited operating history
as a company makes any assessment of our future success and viability subject to significant uncertainty.
We will encounter risks and difficulties frequently experienced by clinical-stage biotechnology companies in rapidly evolving fields, and we have
not yet demonstrated an ability to successfully overcome such risks and difficulties. If we do not address these risks and difficulties successfully, our
business will suffer.
We have incurred significant net losses in each year since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable
future.
We have incurred net losses in almost every reporting period since our inception. We incurred net losses of $130.4 million, $133.3 million, and
$36.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $710.1
million.
We have invested significant financial resources in research and development activities, including for our preclinical and clinical product candidates.
We do not expect to generate revenue from product sales for several years, if at all. The revenue we currently generate from our collaboration arrangements
with AbbVie and GSK is
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variable and limited in amount. For our collaborations with AbbVie and GSK, we recognize collaboration revenue by measuring the progress towards
complete satisfaction of the performance of obligation measured as the program costs are incurred. The amount of our future net losses will depend, in part,
on the level of our future expenditures and revenue. Moreover, our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year, such that
a period-to-period comparison of our results of operations may not be a good indication of our future performance.
On July 1, 2021, we entered into an agreement with GSK to collaborate on the global development and commercialization of progranulin-elevating
monoclonal antibodies, including latozinemab and AL101. Under the terms of the GSK Agreement, we received $700 million in upfront payments, of
which $500 million was received in August 2021 and $200 million was received in January 2022. In addition, we will be eligible to receive up to an
additional $1.5 billion in clinical development, regulatory, and commercial launch-related milestone payments for latozinemab and AL101.
Developing our product candidates is expensive, and we expect to continue to spend substantial amounts as we fund our early-stage research
projects and continue to advance our programs through preclinical and clinical development. Even if we are successful in developing our product
candidates and obtaining regulatory approvals, launching and commercializing any product candidate will require substantial additional funding.
We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and increasingly higher operating losses for the foreseeable future. We anticipate that our
expenses will increase substantially if and as we:
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continue our research and discovery activities;
advance our research and drug discovery platform, including our target, patient, and biomarker selections;
progress our current and any future product candidates through preclinical and clinical development;
initiate and conduct additional preclinical, clinical, or other studies for our product candidates;
work with our CDMOs to scale up the manufacturing processes for our product candidates or, in the future, establish and operate a
manufacturing facility;
change or add contract manufacturers or suppliers;
seek regulatory approvals and marketing authorizations for our product candidates;
establish sales, marketing, and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we obtain approval;
make milestone, royalty, or other payments due under any license or collaboration agreements;
take steps to seek protection of our intellectual property and defend our intellectual property against challenges from third parties;
obtain, maintain, protect, and enforce our intellectual property portfolio, including intellectual property obtained through license and
collaboration agreements;
attract, hire, and retain qualified personnel, especially in light of a competitive hiring and compensation environment;
provide additional internal infrastructure to support our continued research and development operations and any planned commercialization
efforts in the future;
implement additional internal systems and infrastructure related to cybersecurity;
meet the requirements and demands of being a public company;
withstand periods of rising rates of inflation; and
defend against any product liability claims or other lawsuits related to our products.
Our prior losses and expected future losses have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity and working capital. In
any particular quarter or quarters, our operating results could be below the expectations of securities analysts or investors, which could cause our stock
price to decline.
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Drug development is a highly uncertain undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk.
We have no products approved for commercial sale. To obtain revenues from the sales of our product candidates that are significant or large enough
to achieve profitability, we must succeed, either alone or with third parties, in developing, obtaining regulatory approval for, manufacturing, and marketing
therapies with significant commercial success. Our ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends on many factors, including:
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completing research and preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates;
obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing authorizations for product candidates for which we successfully complete clinical
development and clinical trials;
developing a sustainable and scalable manufacturing process for our product candidates;
establishing and maintaining commercially viable supply relationships with third parties that can provide adequate products and services to
support clinical activities and commercial demand of our product candidates;
identifying, assessing, acquiring, and/or developing new product candidates;
negotiating favorable terms in any collaboration, licensing, or other arrangements into which we may enter;
launching and successfully commercializing product candidates for which we obtain regulatory and marketing approval, whether alone or
in collaboration with a partner, including the establishment of any necessary sales, marketing, and distribution infrastructure;
obtaining and maintaining an adequate price for our product candidates, both in the United States and in foreign countries where our
products are commercialized;
obtaining adequate reimbursement for our product candidates from payors;
obtaining market acceptance of our product candidates as viable treatment options;
addressing any competing technological and market developments;
receiving milestones and other payments under our current and any future collaboration arrangements;
addressing impacts on our clinical trials resulting from factors related to the effects of worldwide economic conditions, including
macroeconomic downturns stemming from increased inflation, supply chain and other economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and
geopolitical events;
maintaining, protecting, expanding, and enforcing our portfolio of intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets, and know-
how; and
attracting, hiring, and retaining qualified personnel in a competitive compensation environment.
To date, clinical development of two of our product candidates has been terminated. AbbVie decided to terminate our CD33 collaboration program,
after we and AbbVie concluded that further development of AL003, the asset being developed under that program, was not warranted. Additionally, we
decided to close the Phase 1 clinical trial for our AL044 product candidate based on initial PK and tolerability data. Because of the numerous risks and
uncertainties associated with drug development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of our expenses, or when we will be able to generate any
meaningful revenue or achieve or maintain profitability, if ever. In addition, our expenses could increase beyond our current expectations if we are required
by the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies to perform studies in addition to those that we currently anticipate, or if there are any delays in any of our or our
current or future collaborators’ clinical trials or the development of any of our product candidates. Even if one or more of our product candidates is
approved for commercial sale, we anticipate incurring significant costs associated with launching and commercializing any approved product candidate and
ongoing compliance efforts.
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We will need to obtain substantial additional financing to complete the development and any commercialization of our product candidates, and a
failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce, or terminate our
commercialization efforts, product development, or other operations.
Our operations have required substantial amounts of cash since inception, and we expect our expenses to increase significantly in the foreseeable
future. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities and upfront payments received in connection with our
collaboration arrangements with AbbVie and GSK. Developing our product candidates and conducting clinical trials for the treatment of neurodegenerative
diseases, including FTD, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease, will require substantial amounts of capital. We will also require a significant
amount of capital for the further development of our product candidates, and if any of such product candidates are approved, to commercialize any
approved products.
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $548.9 million. In January 2024, we announced the closing of
an underwritten public offering and the net proceeds from the offering were approximately $71.1 million. Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities as of December 31, 2023 plus the net proceeds from the offering total $620.0 million, which we anticipate provides runway through 2026. Our
estimate as to how long we expect our existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities to be available to fund our operations is based on
assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. In addition, changing
circumstances, including periods of rising inflation, may cause us to increase our spending significantly faster than we currently anticipate, and we may
need to spend more money than currently expected because of circumstances beyond our control. We may need to raise additional funds sooner than we
anticipate if we choose to grow more rapidly than we presently anticipate.
Global markets recently have experienced volatility and instability in connection with macroeconomic downturns stemming from increased
inflation, supply chain and other economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and
Ukraine, and associated sanctions targeting Russia, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, among other matters. In addition, the public market
for and stock prices of biotechnology companies have experienced a significant downturn over the last few years. Our ability to raise money in the public
markets may be severely impacted for the foreseeable future due to these factors. Additional capital may not be available when we need it, on terms
acceptable to us, or at all. If adequate capital is not available to us on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly delay, scale back, or discontinue
our research and development programs or the commercialization of any product candidates, if approved, or be unable to continue or expand our
operations, or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, as desired, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and growth prospects and cause the price of our common stock to decline.
To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will
be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of a common stockholder. Debt
financing, if available, may be on unfavorable terms, including interest rates, and 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 additional funds through
collaborations, strategic alliances, or licensing or other transactions, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams,
research programs, or product candidates, or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.
Due to the significant resources required for the development of our product candidates, and depending on our ability to access capital, we must
prioritize development of certain product candidates. Moreover, we may expend our limited resources on programs that do not yield a successful
product candidate or fail to capitalize on product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of
success.
We have identified over 100 potential immune system targets. Three of our product candidates, latozinemab, AL002, and AL101 are in clinical
development, and we continue to develop our research pipeline. Together, the development of these programs and product candidates requires significant
capital investment. Due to the significant resources required for the development of our programs and product candidates, we must focus our programs and
product candidates on specific diseases and disease pathways and decide which product candidates to pursue and advance and the amount of resources to
allocate to each. Our drug development strategy is to clinically test and seek regulatory approval for our product candidates in indications in which we
believe there is the most evidence that we
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will be able to quickly generate proof-of-concept data. We then intend to expand to clinical testing and seek regulatory approvals in other
neurodegenerative indications based on genetic and mechanistic overlap with the primary indication.
However, even if our product candidates are able to gain regulatory approval in one indication, there is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain
approval in other indications, and we may expend significant resources in seeking such approvals. Our decisions concerning the allocation of research,
development, collaboration, management, and financial resources toward particular product candidates or therapeutic areas may not lead to the
development of any viable commercial product and may divert resources away from better opportunities. Similarly, our potential decisions to delay,
terminate, or collaborate with third parties in respect of certain programs may subsequently also prove to be suboptimal and could cause us to miss valuable
opportunities. If we make incorrect determinations regarding the viability or market potential of any of our programs or product candidates or misread
trends in the biopharmaceutical industry, in particular for neurodegenerative diseases, such events could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, and results of operations. As a result, we may fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities, be
required to forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or other diseases and disease pathways that may later prove to have
greater commercial potential than those we choose to pursue, or relinquish valuable rights to such product candidates through collaboration, licensing, or
other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been advantageous for us to invest additional resources to retain sole development and
commercialization rights. Our reliance on genetic screening and use of biomarkers to align patient risk profiles with targeted intervention may eventually
require us to develop and use companion diagnostics, which could impact product development costs and timelines depending on the specific diagnostic
test and any applicable regulatory requirements that would need to be met to enable its use.
Risks Related to the Discovery, Development, and Commercialization of Our Product Candidates
Research and development of biopharmaceutical products is inherently risky. Our business is heavily dependent on the successful development of our
product candidates, which are in various stages of preclinical and clinical development. We cannot give any assurance that any of our product
candidates will receive regulatory, including marketing, approval, which is necessary before they can be commercialized.
We are in the clinical stages of development of many of the product candidates currently in our programs. To date, we have invested substantially in
our efforts and financial resources to identify, procure intellectual property for, and develop our programs and product candidates, and provide general and
administrative support for these operations. Our future success is dependent on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and then
successfully commercialize our product candidates, and we may fail to do so for many reasons, including the following:
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our product candidates may not successfully complete preclinical studies or clinical trials;
a product candidate may on further study be shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate it is unlikely to be
effective or otherwise does not meet applicable regulatory criteria;
our competitors may develop therapeutics that render our product candidates obsolete or less attractive;
the product candidates that we develop may not be sufficiently covered by intellectual property for which we hold exclusive rights;
the product candidates that we develop may be covered by third parties’ patents or other intellectual property or exclusive rights;
the market for a product candidate may change so that the continued development of that product candidate is no longer reasonable or
commercially attractive;
a product candidate may not be capable of being produced in sufficient quantities for development or commercialization at an acceptable
cost, or at all;
if a product candidate obtains regulatory approval, we may be unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities, or successfully market
such approved product candidate, to gain market acceptance; and
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a product candidate may not be accepted as safe and effective by patients, the medical community, or third-party payors, if applicable.
If any of these events occur, we may be forced to abandon our development efforts for a program or programs, which would have a material adverse
effect on our business and could potentially cause us to cease operations.
We may not be successful in our efforts to further develop our current product candidates. We are not permitted to market or promote any of our
product candidates before we receive regulatory approval from the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, and we may never receive such
regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. Most of our product candidates are in the early stages of development, and all will require significant
additional clinical development, management of preclinical, clinical, and manufacturing activities, regulatory approval, adequate manufacturing supply, a
commercial organization, and significant marketing efforts before we generate any revenue from product sales, if at all.
We have never completed a clinical development program. We are in Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials for one product candidate, latozinemab, we
are in Phase 2 clinical development for one product candidate, AL002, we are in a Phase 2 clinical trial for one product candidate, AL101. Further, we
cannot be certain that any of our product candidates will be successful in clinical trials. For any product candidates that have advanced into clinical trials,
we may terminate such trials or the clinical program prior to their completion.
If any of our product candidates successfully complete clinical trials, we generally plan to seek regulatory approval to market our product candidates
in the United States, the European Union, and in additional foreign countries where we believe there is a viable commercial opportunity. We have never
commenced, compiled, or submitted an application seeking regulatory approval to market any product candidate. We may never receive regulatory
approval to market any product candidates even if such product candidates successfully complete clinical trials, which would adversely affect our viability.
To obtain regulatory approval in countries outside the United States, we must comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements of such countries
regarding safety, efficacy, manufacturing and controls, clinical trials, commercial sales, pricing, and distribution of our product candidates. We may also
rely on our collaborators or partners to conduct the required activities to support an application for regulatory approval, and to seek approval, for one or
more of our product candidates. We cannot be sure that our collaborators or partners will conduct these activities or do so within the timeframe we desire.
Even if we (or our collaborators or partners) are successful in obtaining approval in one jurisdiction, we cannot ensure that we will obtain approval in any
other jurisdiction. If we are unable to obtain approval for our product candidates in multiple jurisdictions, our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and our growth prospects could be negatively affected.
Even if we receive regulatory approval to market any of our product candidates, whether for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases or other
diseases, we cannot be assured that any such product candidate will be successfully commercialized, widely accepted in the marketplace, or more effective
than other commercially available alternatives.
Investment in biopharmaceutical product development involves significant risk that any product candidate will fail to demonstrate adequate efficacy
or an acceptable safety profile, gain regulatory approval, and become commercially viable. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to
successfully advance any of our product candidates through the development process or, if approved, successfully commercialize any of our product
candidates.
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We may not be successful in our efforts to continue to create a pipeline of product candidates from our research and drug discovery platform or to
develop commercially successful products. If we fail to successfully identify and develop additional product candidates from our research and drug
discovery platform, our commercial opportunity may be limited.
One of our strategies is to identify and pursue clinical development of additional product candidates. Identifying, developing, obtaining regulatory
approval, and commercializing additional product candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative and other diseases will require substantial additional
funding and is prone to the risks of failure inherent in drug development. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to successfully identify or
acquire additional product candidates, advance any of these additional product candidates through the development process, successfully commercialize
any such additional product candidates, if approved, or assemble sufficient resources to identify, acquire, develop, or, if approved, commercialize additional
product candidates. If we are unable to successfully identify, acquire, develop, and commercialize additional product candidates, our commercial
opportunity may be limited.
We may not be successful in our efforts to obtain approval for additional or expanded indications for our approved product candidates.
Our drug development strategy is to clinically test and seek regulatory approval for our product candidates in indications in which we believe there
is the most evidence that we will be able to quickly generate proof-of-concept data. We then intend to expand to clinical testing and seek regulatory
approvals in other neurodegenerative indications based on genetic and mechanistic overlap with the primary indication. Conducting clinical trials for
additional indications for our product candidates requires substantial technical, financial, and human capital resources and is prone to the risks of failure
inherent in drug development. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful in our effort to obtain regulatory approval for our product
candidates for additional indications even if we obtain approval for an initial indication.
We have concentrated a substantial portion of our research and development efforts on the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, a field that has
seen limited success in drug development. Further, our product candidates are based on new approaches and novel technology, and we must identify
and develop new biomarkers that are signs of a disease or condition and that can measure impact on disease progression of our product candidates,
which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of product candidate development and to subsequently obtain regulatory approval.
We are focusing our research and development efforts on addressing neurodegenerative diseases. Collectively, efforts by biopharmaceutical
companies in the field of neurodegenerative diseases have seen limited success in drug development. There are limited currently approved therapeutic
options available for patients with FTD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Our future success is highly
dependent on the successful development of our product candidates for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Developing product candidates and, if
approved, commercializing our products for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases subjects us to a number of challenges, including obtaining disease
modifying activity and efficacious dose in target tissue and obtaining regulatory approval from the FDA and other regulatory authorities who have only a
limited set of precedents to rely on.
Our approach to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases aims to identify and select targets enriched in microglia and other myeloid immune
cells which are genetically associated with neurodegenerative diseases. We identify and develop product candidates that are designed to cross the blood
brain barrier in sufficient quantity and potency to enable efficacious dosing in the brain and engage the intended target, and we must be able to identify and
develop biomarkers and biomarker assays that can accurately identify signs of a disease or condition, assist us in selecting the right patient population,
demonstrate target and pathway engagement, and measure the impact on disease progression of our product candidates. This strategy may not prove to be
successful. We cannot be sure that our approach will yield satisfactory therapeutic products that are safe and effective, scalable, or profitable.
We may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials or may not be able to conduct or complete our clinical trials on the timelines we expect, if at
all.
Clinical testing is expensive, time consuming, and subject to uncertainty. We cannot guarantee that any clinical trials will be conducted as planned or
completed on schedule, if at all. We cannot be sure that submission of
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an IND or a clinical trial application (CTA) will result in the FDA or EMA, as applicable, allowing clinical trials to begin in a timely manner, if at all.
Moreover, even if these trials begin, issues may arise that could suspend or terminate such clinical trials. A failure of one or more clinical trials can occur at
any stage of testing, and our future clinical trials may not be successful. Events that may prevent successful or timely initiation or completion of clinical
trials include:
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inability to generate sufficient preclinical, toxicology, or other in vivo or in vitro data to support the initiation or continuation of clinical
trials;
delays in confirming target engagement, patient selection, or other relevant biomarkers to be utilized in preclinical and clinical product
candidate development;
delays in reaching a consensus with regulatory agencies on study design;
delays in reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organizations (CROs) and clinical trial sites, the terms
of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and clinical trial sites;
delays in identifying, recruiting, and training suitable clinical investigators;
delays in obtaining required IRB/EC approval at each clinical trial site;
imposition of delays to clinical trials, including as a result of temporary or permanent clinical hold by regulatory agencies for a number of
reasons (see for example our discussions of ARIA in other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section), including:
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after review of an IND or amendment, CTA or amendment, or equivalent application or amendment;
as a result of a new safety finding that presents unreasonable risk to clinical trial participants;
as a result of modifications to clinical trial protocols or related documentation;
a negative finding from an inspection of our clinical trial operations or study sites; or
the finding that the investigational protocol or plan is clearly deficient to meet its stated objectives;
delays in identifying, recruiting, and enrolling suitable patients to participate in our clinical trials, and delays caused by patients
withdrawing from clinical trials, or failing to return for post-treatment follow-up;
difficulty collaborating with patient groups and investigators;
failure by our CROs, other third parties, or us to adhere to clinical trial protocols and other requirements;
failure to perform in accordance with the FDA’s or any other regulatory authority’s current good clinical practices (cGCPs) requirements, or
applicable EMA or other regulatory guidelines in other countries;
occurrence of adverse events associated with the product candidate that are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits;
changes in regulatory requirements and guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols;
changes in the standard of care on which a clinical development plan was based, which may require new or additional trials;
the cost of clinical trials of our product candidates being greater than we anticipate;
clinical trials of our product candidates producing negative or inconclusive results, which may result in our deciding, or regulators requiring
us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon product development programs; and
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delays in manufacturing, testing, releasing, validating, or importing/exporting sufficient stable quantities of our product candidates for use
in clinical trials or the inability to do any of the foregoing.
Any inability to successfully initiate or complete clinical trials could result in additional costs to us or impair our ability to generate revenue. In
addition, if we make manufacturing or formulation changes to our product candidates, we may be required to or we may elect to conduct additional studies
to bridge our modified product candidates to earlier versions. Clinical trial delays could also shorten any periods during which our products have patent
protection and may allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do or sooner than anticipated, which could impair our ability to
successfully commercialize our product candidates and may harm our business and results of operations. For example, we had been developing AL003
with AbbVie to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease but on June 30, 2022, AbbVie provided written notice to us formalizing the decision to terminate the
CD33 collaboration program under which AL003 was being developed. AbbVie, or any other collaboration partner may, in the future decide to terminate
collaboration programs based on, among other things, our clinical trial data.
We could also encounter delays if a clinical trial is suspended or terminated by us, by the data safety monitoring board for such trial or by the FDA,
EMA, or any other regulatory authority, or if the IRBs of the institutions in which such trials are being conducted suspend or terminate the participation of
their clinical investigators and sites subject to their review. Such authorities may suspend or terminate a clinical trial due to a number of factors, including
failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols, inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial site
by the FDA, EMA, or other regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold, unforeseen safety issues or adverse side effects, failure to
demonstrate a benefit from using a product candidate, changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions, lack of adequate funding to continue
the clinical trial, and impacts of worldwide economic conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and other geopolitical events.
We may in the future advance product candidates into clinical trials and terminate such trials prior to their completion, which could adversely affect
our business.
Delays in the completion of any clinical trial of our product candidates will increase our costs, slow down our product candidate development and
approval process and delay, or potentially jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenue. In addition, many of the factors that
cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our product
candidates.
We may encounter difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials, and our clinical development activities could thereby be delayed or otherwise
adversely affected.
The timely completion of clinical trials in accordance with their protocols depends, among other things, on our ability to enroll a sufficient number
of patients who remain in the trial until its conclusion. We pursued measures to enroll our Phase 3 INFRONT-3 and Phase 2 INVOKE-2 trials, for example,
by opening additional clinical trial sites and expanding recruitment efforts to enroll the INFRONT-3 trial. We completed enrollment in those trials in the
second half of 2023. Target enrollment of our Phase 3 INFRONT-3 trial was based on feedback from the FDA and EMA. However, we may experience
difficulties in patient enrollment in other clinical trials for a variety of reasons, including:
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the size and nature of the patient population;
the patient eligibility criteria defined in the protocol, including biomarker-driven identification and/or certain highly-specific criteria related
to stage of disease progression, which may limit the patient populations eligible for our clinical trials to a greater extent than competing
clinical trials for the same indication that do not have biomarker-driven patient eligibility criteria;
the size of the study population required for analysis of the trial’s primary endpoints;
the proximity of patients to a trial site;
the design of the trial;
our ability to recruit clinical trial investigators with the appropriate competencies and experience;
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delays in enrolling patients in our clinical trials caused by worldwide economic conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and other
geopolitical events;
competing clinical trials for similar therapies or targeting patient populations meeting our patient eligibility criteria;
availability of approved products that target the patient populations that we are seeking to enroll;
clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages and side effects of the product candidate being studied in relation to other
available therapies and product candidates;
our ability to obtain and maintain patient consents; and
the risk that patients enrolled in clinical trials will not complete such trials or that we may not be able to collect data from such patients for
any reason.
Enrollment of patients in our clinical trials and maintaining patients in our ongoing clinical trials have been, and may continue to be, delayed or
limited due to the effects of worldwide economic conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic and other geopolitical events. While the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic is lessening, the effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health concerns could continue to delay or prevent
the anticipated readouts from our clinical trials. On May 11, 2023, the federal government ended the COVID-19 public health emergency which ended a
number of temporary changes made to federally funded programs while others continue to be in effect. The full impact of this termination of the national
emergency and such policy changes on FDA and other regulatory policies and operations remain unclear.
We or our partners may encounter difficulties or delays in enrollment of our clinical trials, due to the availability of newly approved therapies and
competing products. For example, lecanemab has received FDA approval for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and donanemab, an investigative drug
for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, may receive FDA approval in 2024. As a result, our or our partners’ ability to enroll participants in clinical trials
for Alzheimer’s disease may be hampered if potential participants choose to instead avail themselves of approved therapies.
Our clinical trials may reveal significant adverse events, toxicities, or other side effects and may fail to demonstrate substantial evidence of the safety
and efficacy of our product candidates, which would prevent, delay, or limit the scope of regulatory approval and commercialization.
Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of any of our product candidates, we must demonstrate through lengthy, complex, and
expensive preclinical studies and clinical trials that our product candidates are both safe and effective for use in each target indication. For those product
candidates that are subject to regulation as biological drug products, we will need to demonstrate that they are safe, pure, and potent for use in their target
indications. Each product candidate must demonstrate an adequate risk versus benefit profile in its intended patient population and for its intended use.
Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the
clinical trial process. The results of preclinical studies of our product candidates may not be predictive of the results of early-stage or later-stage clinical
trials, and results of early-stage clinical trials of our product candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials. The results of
clinical trials in healthy volunteers or one set of patients or disease indications may not be predictive of those obtained in another. In some instances, there
can be significant variability in safety or efficacy results between different clinical trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including
changes in trial procedures set forth in protocols, differences in the size and type of the patient populations, changes in and adherence to the dosing regimen
and other clinical trial protocol elements, and the rate of dropout among clinical trial participants. Open-label or long-term extension studies may also
extend the timing and cost of a clinical program substantially. Product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and
efficacy profile despite having progressed through preclinical studies and initial clinical trials. A number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry
have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or unacceptable safety issues, notwithstanding promising results in
earlier trials. This is particularly true in neurodegenerative diseases, where failure rates historically have been higher than in many other disease areas. Most
product candidates that begin clinical trials are never approved by regulatory authorities for commercialization.
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For example, in our ongoing INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial in Alzheimer’s disease, treatment-emergent MRI findings resembling ARIA have
been observed. ARIA are MRI findings that may include vasogenic edema, sulcal effusions, microhemorrhages and/or superficial siderosis. The incidence
of ARIA has been shown to increase in Alzheimer’s disease patients with the administration of certain Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics, namely anti-β-
amyloid antibodies. We do not yet know whether the biological mechanism(s) causing these MRI changes are the same as that associated with the ARIA
that has been described with anti-amyloid beta antibodies. In our INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial, most cases resembling ARIA were asymptomatic and
non-serious. However, a small number of ARIA-related serious adverse events occurred early in the trial in patients with the APOE e4/e4 genotype, as
previously reported. To mitigate risks associated with ARIA, at that time we voluntarily discontinued dosing and enrollment of APOE e4/e4 participants in
our INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial. Following these changes, a small number of ARIA-related serious adverse events occurred in patients who are non-
homozygous for the APOE e4 allele. We continue to implement earlier MRI monitoring, and are following recently published guidelines for ARIA
monitoring and management. We are conducting this study under the guidance of an IDMC, which is allowed to review unblinded data and to make trial
recommendations. If these measures are not successful in managing the ARIA in our trials, then the FDA, EMA or other regulatory authority may suspend
clinical trials, delay or deny approval, or require a more restrictive label or box warning on an approved product.
We have limited experience in designing clinical trials and may be unable to design and execute a clinical trial to support marketing approval. We
cannot be certain that our current clinical trials or any other future clinical trials will be successful. Additionally, any safety concerns observed in any one
of our clinical trials in our targeted indications could limit the prospects for regulatory approval of our product candidates in those and other indications,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, even if such clinical trials are successfully completed, we cannot guarantee that the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities will interpret
the results as we do, and more trials could be required before we submit our product candidates for approval. To the extent that the results of the trials are
not satisfactory to the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities for support of a marketing application, we may be required to expend significant resources,
which may not be available to us, to conduct additional trials in support of potential approval of our product candidates. Even if regulatory approval is
secured for any of our product candidates, the terms of such approval may limit the scope and use of our product candidates, which may also limit its
commercial potential. Further, even if regulatory approval is secured for any of our product candidates, we cannot be assured that a federal court will not
modify, invalidate, or revoke such approval.
Our operations and financial results could be adversely impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or other global health concerns in the
United States and the rest of the world.
On May 11, 2023, the federal government ended the COVID-19 public health emergency, which ended a number of temporary changes made to
federally funded programs while some continue to be in effect. The full impact of this termination of the national emergency and the wind-down of the
public health emergency on the FDA and other regulatory policies and operations is unclear. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic or other disease
outbreaks continue to pose a threat to our ability to conduct our business operations as planned, there can be no assurance that we will be able to avoid a
material impact on our business from the pandemic or its consequences. Additionally, a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic or other public health
concerns could adversely impact economic and market conditions and lead to an extended period of rapid inflation and global economic slowdown.
In 2020 and 2021, the FDA issued a number of COVID-19 related guidance documents for manufacturers and clinical trial sponsors, many of which
have expired or were withdrawn with the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration on May 11, 2023, although some COVID-19
related guidance documents continue in effect. Should the FDA issue additional guidance that mandates material changes to our clinical trials in response
to a pandemic or other public health outbreak, the costs of such clinical trials may increase.
The spread of COVID-19 and subsequent variants has caused us to modify our business practices including by employing more remote workers and
operating under a hybrid work model. In addition, we may take actions as required by government authorities and regulations or that we determine are in
the best interests of our employees, customers, partners, and suppliers. We continue to maintain both a remote and hybrid work force, with many employees
continuing to work remotely.
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To the extent the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or other public health concerns adversely affect our operations and financial results, it may also
have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section.
We face significant competition in an environment of rapid technological and scientific change. Some competitors have achieved, and there is a
possibility that other competitors will achieve regulatory approval before us. Our competitors’ therapies may be safer, more advanced, or more effective
than ours, which may negatively impact our ability to successfully market or commercialize any product candidates we may develop and ultimately
harm our financial condition.
The development and commercialization of new drug products is highly competitive. Moreover, the neurodegenerative field is characterized by
strong and increasing competition, and a strong emphasis on intellectual property. We may face competition with respect to any of our product candidates
that we seek to develop or commercialize in the future from major pharmaceutical companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology
companies worldwide. Potential competitors also include academic institutions, government agencies, and other public and private research organizations
that conduct research, seek patent protection, and establish collaborative arrangements for research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
There are a number of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are currently pursuing the development of products for the
treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including FTD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS. Many of these current or potential
competitors, either alone or with their strategic partners, have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development,
manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals, and marketing approved products than we do. For example, in
January 2023, FDA granted accelerated approval, and in July 2023, FDA granted full approval to lecanemab, an anti-amyloid beta protofibril antibody for
the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease developed by Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai) and Biogen Inc. (Biogen). Eisai has also filed marketing authorization
applications for lecanemab in Japan and Europe. Eisai further announced that they expect to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial with a TREM2 agonist in
Alzheimer’s disease in 2024. Additionally, in July 2022, Biogen announced that the FDA accepted an NDA for tofersen, a drug for ALS associated with
mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and in September 2022, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the FDA approved RELYVRIO™
(sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol) for the treatment of adults with ALS. The FDA granted accelerated approval to tofersen in April 2023, to be
marketed as QALSODY™. In seeking accelerated approval, Biogen pointed to biomarker data and the slowing of disease progression in a longer-term
follow-up in their study. In addition, companies such as Prevail Therapeutics, Inc. (Prevail) and Passage Bio, Inc. (Passage Bio) have developed gene
therapy based products (PR006 and PBFT02, respectively) for the treatment of FTD-GRN. Vigil Therapeutics has developed small molecule (VG-3927)
and antibody (iluzanebart) candidates targeting TREM2. There are also pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, such as Denali Therapeutics, Inc.
(Denali), F. Hoffman La Roche Ltd. (Roche), and Aliada Therapeutics, Inc. (Aliada), that are developing technologies for the transport of products across
the blood-brain barrier. Other competitors are pursuing product candidates that act on the same targets or through comparable mechanisms of action.
Furthermore, 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 enrollment in clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary
to, or necessary for, our programs. Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that
are safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient, or are less expensive than any products that we may develop.
Furthermore, currently approved products could be discovered to have application for treatment of neurodegenerative disease indications, which could give
such products significant regulatory and market timing advantages over any of our product candidates. Our competitors also may obtain FDA, EMA, or
other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, including through fast track designation, priority review,
accelerated approval or breakthrough therapy designation, and may obtain orphan drug exclusivity from the FDA for indications our product candidates are
targeting, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market. Additionally, products or
technologies
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developed by our competitors may render our potential product candidates uneconomical or obsolete, and we may not be successful in marketing any
product candidates we may develop against competitors.
In addition, we could face litigation or other proceedings with respect to the scope, ownership, validity, and/or enforceability of our patents relating
to our competitors’ products, and our competitors may allege that our products infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate their intellectual property. The
availability of our competitors’ products could limit the demand, and the price we are able to charge, for any products that we may develop and
commercialize.
The manufacture of our product candidates is complex, and we may encounter difficulties in production. If we or any of our third-party manufacturers
encounter such difficulties, or fail to meet rigorously enforced regulatory standards, our ability to provide supply of our product candidates for clinical
trials or our products, if approved, for patients, could be delayed or stopped, or we may be unable to maintain a commercially viable cost structure.
The processes involved in manufacturing our product candidates are complex, expensive, highly-regulated, and subject to multiple risks. Further, as
product candidates are developed through preclinical studies to late-stage clinical trials towards approval and commercialization, it is common that various
aspects of the development program, such as manufacturing methods, are altered along the way in an effort to optimize processes and results. Such changes
carry the risk that they will not achieve these intended objectives, and any of these changes could cause our product candidates to perform differently and
affect the results of planned clinical trials or other future clinical trials.
In order to conduct clinical trials of our product candidates, or supply commercial products, if approved, we will need to manufacture them in large
quantities. Our CDMOs may be unable to successfully produce or increase the manufacturing scale or capacity for any of our product candidates in a
timely or cost-effective manner, or at all. In addition, quality issues may arise during scale-up activities. If any of the foregoing occurs, the development,
testing, and clinical trials of that product candidate may be delayed or become infeasible, and regulatory approval or commercial launch of any resulting
product may be delayed or not obtained in any or all jurisdictions in which such approval or launch is intended, which could significantly harm our
business. The same risk would apply to our internal manufacturing facilities, should we in the future decide to build internal manufacturing capacity. In
addition, building internal manufacturing capacity would carry significant risks in terms of being able to plan, design, and execute on a complex project to
build manufacturing facilities in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
In addition, the manufacturing process for any products that we may develop is subject to FDA, EMA, and foreign regulatory authority approval
processes, and continuous oversight, and we will need to contract with manufacturers who can meet all applicable FDA, EMA, and foreign regulatory
authority requirements, including complying with current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs) on an ongoing basis. If we or our third-party
manufacturers are unable to reliably produce products to specifications acceptable to the FDA, EMA, or other regulatory authorities, we may not obtain or
maintain the approvals we need to commercialize such products. Even if we obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, there is no
assurance that either we or our CDMOs will be able to manufacture the approved product to specifications acceptable to the FDA, EMA, or other
regulatory authorities, to produce it in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements for the potential launch of the product, or to meet potential future
demand. Any of these challenges could delay completion of clinical trials, require bridging clinical trials or the repetition of one or more clinical trials,
increase clinical trial costs, delay approval of our product candidates, impair commercialization efforts, increase our cost of goods, and have an adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.
If, in the future, we are unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to sell and market any product
candidates we may develop, we may not be successful in commercializing those product candidates if and when they are approved.
We do not have a sales or marketing infrastructure and have no experience in the sale, marketing, or distribution of pharmaceutical products. To
achieve commercial success for any approved product for which we retain sales and marketing responsibilities, we must either develop a sales and
marketing organization or outsource these functions to third parties. In the future, we may choose to build a focused sales, marketing, and commercial
support infrastructure to sell, or participate in commercial activities with our collaborators for, some of our product candidates if and when they are
approved.
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There are risks involved with both establishing our own commercial capabilities and entering into arrangements with third parties to perform these
services. For example, recruiting and training a sales force or reimbursement specialists are expensive and time consuming and could delay any product
launch. If the commercial launch of a product candidate for which we recruit a sales force and establish marketing and other commercialization capabilities
is delayed or does not occur for any reason, we would have prematurely or unnecessarily incurred these commercialization expenses. This may be costly,
and our investment would be lost if we cannot retain or reposition our commercialization personnel.
Factors that may inhibit our efforts to commercialize any approved product on our own include:
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our inability to recruit and retain adequate numbers of effective sales, marketing, reimbursement, customer service, medical affairs, and
other support personnel;
the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to physicians or persuade adequate numbers of physicians to prescribe any future approved
products;
our inability to negotiate arrangements for formulary access, reimbursement, and other acceptance by payors;
the inability to price our products at a sufficient price point to ensure an adequate and attractive level of profitability, and our ability to
recognize revenue from such prices;
restricted or closed distribution channels that make it difficult to distribute our products to segments of the patient population;
the lack of complementary products to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies
with more extensive product lines; and
unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent commercialization organization.
If we enter into arrangements with third parties to perform sales, marketing, commercial support, and distribution services, our product revenue or
the profitability of product revenue may be lower than if we were to market and sell any products we may develop ourselves. In addition, we may not be
successful in entering into arrangements with third parties to commercialize our product candidates or may be unable to do so on terms that are favorable to
us. We may have little control over such third parties, and any of them may fail to devote the necessary resources and attention to sell and market our
products effectively. If we do not establish commercialization capabilities successfully, either on our own or in collaboration with third parties, we will not
be successful in commercializing our product candidates if approved.
Even if any product candidates we develop receive marketing approval, they may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians,
patients, healthcare payors, and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.
The commercial success of any of our products will depend upon its degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors, and
others in the medical community. Even if any product candidates we may develop receive marketing approval, they may nonetheless fail to gain sufficient
market acceptance by physicians, patients, healthcare payors, and others in the medical community. The degree of market acceptance of any product
candidates we may develop, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:
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the efficacy and safety as demonstrated in clinical trials and published in peer-reviewed journals;
the potential and perceived advantages compared to alternative treatments;
the ability to offer our products for sale at competitive prices;
sufficient third-party coverage or reimbursement;
the ability to offer appropriate patient access programs, such as co-pay assistance;
the extent to which physicians recommend our products to their patients;
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convenience and ease of dosing and administration compared to alternative treatments;
the clinical indications for which the product candidate is approved by FDA, EMA, or other regulatory agencies;
product labeling or product insert requirements of the FDA, EMA, or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities, including any
limitations, contraindications, or warnings contained in a product’s approved labeling;
restrictions on how the product is distributed;
the timing of market introduction of competitive products;
publicity concerning our products or competing products and treatments;
the strength of marketing and distribution support; and
the prevalence and severity of any side effects.
If any product candidates we develop do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate significant product revenue, and we may
not become profitable.
Any products we commercialize may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party reimbursement practices, or healthcare reform
initiatives, which would harm our business.
The regulations that govern marketing approvals, pricing, and reimbursement for new drugs vary widely from country to country. In the United
States, recently enacted or potential future legislation may significantly change the approval requirements in ways that could involve additional costs and
cause delays in obtaining approvals. Some countries require approval of the sale price of a drug before it can be marketed. In many countries, the pricing
review period begins after marketing or product licensing approval is granted. In some foreign markets, prescription pharmaceutical pricing remains subject
to continued governmental control even after initial approval is granted. As a result, we might obtain marketing approval for a product in a particular
country, but then be subject to price regulations that delay or render commercially inviable our commercial launch of the product, possibly for lengthy time
periods, and negatively impact the revenue we are able to generate from the sale of the product in that country. Adverse pricing limitations may hinder our
ability to recoup our investment in one or more product candidates, even if any product candidates we may develop obtain marketing approval.
Our ability to successfully commercialize any products that we may develop also will depend in part on the extent to which reimbursement for these
products and related treatments will be available from government health administration authorities, private health insurers, and other organizations.
Government authorities and third-party payors, such as private health insurers and health maintenance organizations, decide which medications they will
pay for and establish reimbursement levels. A primary trend in the U.S. healthcare industry and elsewhere is cost containment. Government authorities and
third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for particular medications. Government
authorities currently impose mandatory discounts for certain patient groups, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs hospitals, and may seek to
increase such discounts at any time. Future regulation may negatively impact the price of our products, if approved. Increasingly, third-party payors are
requiring that drug companies provide them with predetermined discounts from list prices and are challenging the prices charged for medical products. We
cannot be sure that reimbursement will be available for any product candidate that we commercialize and, if reimbursement is available, the level of
reimbursement.
Reimbursement may impact the demand for, or the price of, any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval. In order to get
reimbursement, physicians may need to show that patients have superior treatment outcomes with our products compared to standard of care drugs,
including lower-priced generic versions of standard of care drugs. If reimbursement is not available or is available only to limited levels, we may not be
able to successfully commercialize any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval. In the United States, no uniform policy of coverage and
reimbursement for products exists among third-party payors, and coverage and reimbursement levels for products can differ significantly from payor to
payor. As a result, the coverage determination process is often a time consuming and costly process that may require us to provide scientific and clinical
support for the use of our products to each payor separately, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be applied consistently or
obtained in the first instance.
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There may be significant delays in obtaining reimbursement for newly approved drugs, and coverage may be more limited than the purposes for
which the medicine is approved by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Moreover, eligibility for reimbursement does not
imply that any drug will be paid for in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including research, development, manufacture, sale, and distribution.
Interim reimbursement levels for new drugs, if applicable, may also not be sufficient to cover our costs and may not be made permanent. Reimbursement
rates may vary according to the use of the drug and the clinical setting in which it is used, may be based on reimbursement levels already set for lower cost
drugs and may be incorporated into existing payments for other services. Net prices for drugs may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required
by government healthcare programs or private payors and by any future relaxation of laws that presently restrict imports of drugs from countries where
they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States. Third-party payors often rely upon Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting
their own reimbursement policies. Our inability to promptly obtain coverage and profitable payment rates from both government-funded and private payors
for any approved products we may develop could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, our ability to raise capital needed to
commercialize product candidates, and our overall financial condition.
Current and future CMS coverage restrictions on classes of drugs that encompass our product candidates, including our candidates for treating
Alzheimer’s disease, could have a material adverse impact on our ability to commercialize our product candidates, if approved, generate revenue and attain
profitability. It is unclear how future CMS coverage decisions and policies will impact our business.
Our product candidates for which we intend to seek approval may face biosimilar competition sooner than anticipated.
Even if we are successful in achieving regulatory approval to commercialize a product candidate ahead of our competitors, our product candidates
may face competition from biosimilar products. In the United States, our product candidates are regulated by the FDA as biologic products and we intend
to seek approval for these product candidates pursuant to the BLA pathway. The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCIA) created
an abbreviated pathway for the approval of biosimilar and interchangeable biologic products. The abbreviated regulatory pathway establishes legal
authority for the FDA to review and approve biosimilar biologics, including the possible designation of a biosimilar as “interchangeable” based on its
similarity to an existing brand product. Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product cannot be approved by the FDA until 12 years after the
original branded product was approved under a BLA. The law is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. As a result, its
ultimate impact, implementation, and meaning are subject to uncertainty. While it is uncertain when such processes intended to implement BPCIA may be
fully adopted by the FDA, any such processes could have a material adverse effect on the future commercial prospects for our product candidates.
We believe that any of our product candidates approved as a biologic product under a BLA should qualify for the 12-year period of exclusivity.
However, there is a risk that this exclusivity could be shortened due to Congressional action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider our product
candidates to be reference products entitled to the 12-year period of exclusivity, potentially creating the opportunity for competition sooner than
anticipated. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar product, once approved, will be substituted for any one of our reference products in a way that is
analogous to traditional generic substitution for non-biologic products is not yet clear, and will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors
that are still developing. In addition, a competitor could decide to forego the biosimilar approval path and submit a full BLA after completing its own
preclinical studies and clinical trials. In such cases, any exclusivity to which we may be eligible under the BPCIA would not prevent the competitor from
marketing its product as soon as it is approved.
In Europe, the European Commission has granted marketing authorizations for several biosimilar products pursuant to a set of general and product
class-specific guidelines for biosimilar approvals issued over the past few years. In Europe, a competitor may reference data supporting approval of an
innovative biological product, but will not be able to get it on the market until 10 years after the time of approval of the innovative product. This 10-year
marketing exclusivity period will be extended to 11 years if, during the first eight of those 10 years, the marketing authorization holder obtains an approval
for one or more new therapeutic indications that bring significant clinical benefits compared with existing therapies. In addition, companies may be
developing biosimilar products in other countries that could compete with our products, if approved.
If competitors are able to obtain marketing approval for biosimilars referencing our product candidates, if approved, such product candidates may
become subject to competition from such biosimilars, with the attendant
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competitive pressure and potential adverse consequences. Such competitive products may be able to immediately compete with us in each indication for
which our product candidates may have received approval.
Any legal proceedings or claims involving or against us could be costly and time-consuming to defend and could harm our reputation regardless of the
outcome.
We may become subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, including intellectual property, data privacy,
product liability, employment, class action or derivative, whistleblower and other litigation claims, and governmental and other regulatory investigations
and proceedings. Such matters can be time-consuming, divert management’s attention and resources, cause us to incur significant expenses or liability, or
require us to change our business practices. In addition, the expense of litigation and the timing of this expense from period to period are difficult to
estimate, subject to change, and could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Because of the potential risks, expenses, and
uncertainties of litigation, we may, from time to time, settle disputes, even where we have meritorious claims or defenses, by agreeing to settlement
agreements. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our product
candidates.
We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our product candidates and will face an even greater risk when and if
we commercialize any products. For example, we may be sued if our product candidates cause or are perceived to cause injury or are found to be otherwise
unsuitable during clinical testing, manufacturing, marketing, or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing,
defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product, negligence, strict liability, or a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted
under state consumer protection acts or in countries outside the United States under the applicable legal regimes. If we cannot successfully defend
ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit testing and commercialization of our product
candidates. Even successful defense or negotiations of a settlement would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits
or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
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decreased or interrupted demand for our products;
injury to our reputation;
withdrawal of clinical trial participants and inability to continue clinical trials;
initiation of investigations by regulators;
costs to defend the related litigation;
a diversion of management’s time and our resources;
substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients;
product recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing, or promotional restrictions;
loss of revenue;
exhaustion of any available insurance and our capital resources; and
the inability to commercialize any product candidate.
Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or
inhibit the commercialization of products we develop, alone or with collaborators. Our insurance policies may have various exclusions, and we may be
subject to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage. We may have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that
exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such amounts.
Even if our agreements with any future corporate collaborators entitle us to indemnification against losses, such indemnification may not be available or
adequate should any claim arise.
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Risks Related to Regulatory Approval and Other Legal Compliance Matters
The regulatory approval processes of the FDA, EMA, and comparable foreign regulatory authorities are lengthy, time consuming, and inherently
unpredictable. If we are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates, we will be unable to generate product revenue and
our business will be substantially harmed.
The time required to obtain approval by the FDA, EMA, and comparable foreign regulatory authorities is unpredictable, typically takes many years
following the commencement of clinical trials, and depends upon numerous factors, including the type, complexity, and novelty of the product candidates
involved. In addition, approval policies, regulations, or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a
product candidate’s clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions, which may cause delays in the approval or the decision not to approve an
application. Regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data
are insufficient for approval and require additional preclinical, clinical, or other studies. We have not submitted an application for or obtained regulatory
approval for any product candidate, and it is possible that none of our existing product candidates or any product candidates we may seek to develop in the
future will ever obtain regulatory approval.
Further, development of our product candidates and/or regulatory approval may be delayed for reasons beyond our control. For example, the U.S.
federal government has experienced and may in the future experience shutdown or budget sequestration, which could result in significant reductions to the
FDA’s budget, employees, and operations, which may lead to slower response times and longer review periods, potentially affecting our ability to progress
development of our product candidates or obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates. To the extent FDA and other regulatory authorities
experience any delays or limited resources in reviewing our regulatory applications or requests for meetings and/or guidance, and inspection of
manufacturing facilities prior to regulatory approval, e.g., due to the effects of worldwide economic conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic or other
geopolitical events, or other reasons, we may experience significant delays in our anticipated timelines for our clinical studies and/or for seeking regulatory
approvals, which could adversely affect our business.
Applications for our product candidates could fail to receive regulatory approval in an initial or subsequent indication for many reasons, including
but not limited to the following:
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the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design, implementation, or the interpretation of the
results of our clinical trials;
the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may determine that our product candidates are not safe and effective, only
moderately or insufficiently effective or have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities, or other characteristics that preclude our
obtaining marketing approval or prevent or limit commercial use;
the population studied in the clinical program may not be sufficiently broad or representative to assure efficacy and safety in the full
population for which we seek approval;
the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or
clinical trials;
the data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates may not be sufficient to support the submission of an NDA, BLA, or other
submission or to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere;
we may be unable to demonstrate to the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate’s risk-benefit
ratio, on its own or when compared to the standard of care, is acceptable;
the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes, test procedures, and
specifications, or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies; and
the approval policies or regulations of the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner
rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval or resulting in delays in our regulatory approval, including, for example, in connection
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Biogen’s Aduhelm in Alzheimer’s disease amid questions regarding the underlying data, as well as the government investigation of the
FDA’s approval process for Aduhelm.
This lengthy approval process, as well as the unpredictability of the results of clinical trials, may result in our failing to obtain regulatory approval to
market any of our product candidates, which would significantly harm our business, results of operations, and growth prospects.
In addition, the FDA and other regulatory authorities may change their policies, issue additional regulations or revise existing regulations, any of
which could delay our ability to obtain approvals, increase the costs of compliance or restrict our ability to maintain any regulatory approvals we may have
obtained. If the Supreme Court reverses or curtails the Chevron doctrine, which gives deference to regulatory agencies such as FDA to interpret relevant
statutes, more companies may bring lawsuits against FDA to challenge longstanding FDA decisions and policies which could undermine FDA’s authority,
lead to uncertainties in the industry, and disrupt FDA’s normal operations, which could delay FDA’s review of our regulatory submissions.
Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could halt their clinical development, prevent their regulatory
approval, limit their commercial potential, or result in significant negative consequences.
Adverse events or other undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay, or halt
clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA, EMA, or other comparable foreign
regulatory authorities.
Drug-related side effects could affect patient recruitment, the ability of enrolled patients to complete the study, and/or result in potential product
liability claims. We are required to maintain product liability insurance pursuant to certain of our development and commercialization agreements. We may
not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due to liability. A successful product
liability claim or series of claims brought against us could adversely affect our results of operations, business, and reputation. In addition, regardless of
merit or eventual outcome, product liability claims may result in impairment of our business reputation, withdrawal of clinical trial participants, costs due
to related litigation, distraction of management’s attention from our primary business, initiation of investigations by regulators, substantial monetary awards
to patients or other claimants, the inability to commercialize our product candidates, and decreased demand for our product candidates, if approved for
commercial sale.
Treatment-emergent MRI findings resembling ARIA have been observed. in our INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial. ARIA are MRI findings that may
include vasogenic edema, sulcal effusions, microhemorrhages and/or superficial siderosis. The incidence of ARIA has been shown to increase in
Alzheimer's disease patients with the administration of certain Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics, namely anti-β-amyloid antibodies. We do not yet know
whether the biological mechanism(s) causing the MRI changes in INVOKE-2 are the same as that associated with the ARIA that has been described with
anti-amyloid beta antibodies. In INVOKE-2, most cases resembling ARIA were asymptomatic and non-serious. However, a small number of ARIA-related
serious adverse events occurred early in the trial in patients with the APOE e4/e4 genotype, as previously reported. To mitigate risks associated with ARIA,
at that time we voluntarily discontinued dosing and enrollment of APOE e4/e4 participants in our INVOKE-2 Phase 2 clinical trial. Following these
changes, a small number of ARIA-related serious adverse events occurred in patients who are non-homozygous for the APOE e4 allele. We continue to
implement earlier MRI monitoring, and are following recently published guidelines for ARIA monitoring and management. We are conducting this study
under the guidance of an IDMC, which is allowed to review unblinded data and to make trial recommendations.
Additionally, if one or more of our product candidates receives marketing approval, and we or others later identify undesirable side effects or
adverse events caused by such products, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including but not limited to:
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regulatory authorities may withdraw approvals of such product and cause us to recall our products;
regulatory authorities may require additional warnings on the label;
we may be required to change the way the product is administered, monitor patients over the course of treatment, or conduct additional
clinical trials or post-approval studies;
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we may be required to create a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy plan, which could include a medication guide outlining the risks of
such side effects for distribution to patients, a communication plan for healthcare providers, pre-prescription screening or ongoing
monitoring for ARIA and/or other adverse events, and/or other elements, such as boxed warning on the packaging (for example, as required
for lecanemab), to assure safe use;
we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients; and
our reputation may suffer.
Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the particular product candidate, if approved, and could
significantly harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.
We currently are and may continue in the future to conduct clinical trials for our product candidates outside the United States, and the FDA, EMA,
and applicable foreign regulatory authorities may not accept data from such trials.
We currently are and may continue in the future choose to conduct one or more of our clinical trials outside the United States, including in Europe,
Latin America, Asia, or Australia. The acceptance of study data from clinical trials conducted outside the United States or another jurisdiction by the FDA,
EMA, or applicable foreign regulatory authority may be subject to certain conditions. In cases where data from foreign clinical trials are intended to serve
as the basis for marketing approval in the United States, the FDA will generally not approve the application on the basis of foreign data alone unless (i) the
data are applicable to the United States population and United States medical practice; and (ii) the trials were performed by clinical investigators of
recognized competence and pursuant to cGCP regulations. Additionally, the FDA’s clinical trial requirements, including sufficient size of patient
populations and statistical powering, must be met. Many foreign regulatory bodies have similar approval requirements. In addition, such foreign trials
would be subject to the applicable local laws of the foreign jurisdictions where the trials are conducted. There can be no assurance that the FDA, EMA, or
any applicable foreign regulatory authority will accept data from trials conducted outside of the United States or the applicable jurisdiction, as regulatory
authorities in different jurisdictions may impose different requirements for approval, including requirements with respect to trial design or trial diversity. If
the FDA, EMA, or any applicable foreign regulatory authority does not accept such data, it would result in the need for additional trials, which would be
costly and time-consuming and delay aspects of our business plan, and which may result in our product candidates not receiving approval or clearance for
commercialization in the applicable jurisdiction. Our reliance on genetic screening and use of biomarkers to align patient risk profiles with targeted
intervention may eventually require us to develop and use companion diagnostics, which could result in additional regulatory requirements that would need
to be met to enable its use.
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our product candidates in one jurisdiction does not mean that we will be successful in obtaining
regulatory approval of our product candidates in other jurisdictions.
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our product candidates in one jurisdiction does not guarantee that we will be able to obtain or
maintain regulatory approval in any other jurisdiction, but a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one jurisdiction may have a negative effect
on the regulatory approval process in others. For example, even if the FDA or EMA grants marketing approval of a product candidate, comparable
regulatory authorities in foreign jurisdictions must also approve the manufacturing, marketing, and promotion of the product candidate in those countries.
Approval procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements and administrative review periods different from those in the United States,
including additional preclinical studies or clinical trials as clinical trials conducted in one jurisdiction may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other
jurisdictions. In many jurisdictions outside the United States, a product candidate must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in
that jurisdiction. In some cases, the price that we intend to charge for our products is also subject to regulatory approval.
Obtaining foreign regulatory approvals and compliance with foreign regulatory requirements could result in significant delays, difficulties, and costs
for us and could delay or prevent the introduction of our products in certain countries. If we or any partner we work with fails to comply with the regulatory
requirements in international
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markets or fails to receive applicable marketing approvals, our target market will be reduced, and our ability to realize the full market potential of our
product candidates will be harmed.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate, our products will remain subject to extensive post-marketing requirements and
regulatory scrutiny.
If any of our product candidates are approved, they will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for manufacturing, labeling, packaging,
storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, conduct of post-marketing studies, and submission of safety, efficacy, and other post-market
information, including both federal and state requirements in the United States and requirements of comparable foreign regulatory authorities.
Manufacturers and manufacturers’ facilities are required to comply with extensive requirements imposed by the FDA, EMA, and comparable
foreign regulatory authorities, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to cGMP regulations. As such, we and our
contract manufacturers will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with cGMP and adherence to commitments made in any
NDA, BLA, or marketing authorization application (MAA). Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue to expend time, money, and
effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production, and quality control.
Any regulatory approvals that we receive for our product candidates will be subject to limitations on the approved indicated uses for which the
product may be marketed and promoted or to the conditions of approval (including any requirement to implement a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation
Strategy), or contain requirements for potentially costly post-marketing testing. We will be required to report certain adverse reactions and production
problems, if any, to the FDA, EMA, and comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Any new legislation addressing drug safety issues could result in delays
in product development or commercialization, or increased costs to ensure compliance. The FDA and other agencies, including the Department of Justice,
closely regulate and monitor the post-approval marketing and promotion of products to ensure that they are manufactured, marketed, and distributed only
for the approved indications and in accordance with the provisions of the approved labeling. We will have to comply with requirements concerning
advertising and promotion for our products. Promotional communications with respect to prescription drugs are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory
restrictions and must be consistent with the information in the product’s approved label. As such, we may not promote our products for indications or uses
for which they do not have approval. The holder of an approved NDA, BLA, or MAA must submit new or supplemental applications and obtain approval
for certain changes to the approved product, product labeling, or manufacturing process. We could also be asked to conduct post-marketing clinical trials to
verify the safety and efficacy of our products in general or in specific patient subsets. If original marketing approval was obtained via the accelerated
approval pathway, we could be required to conduct a successful post-marketing clinical trial to confirm clinical benefit for our products. An unsuccessful
post-marketing study or failure to complete such a study could result in the withdrawal of marketing approval.
If a regulatory agency discovers previously unknown problems with a product, such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or
problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, or disagrees with the promotion, marketing or labeling of a product, such regulatory agency
may impose restrictions on that product or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product from the market. If we fail to comply with applicable
regulatory requirements, a regulatory agency or enforcement authority may, among other things:
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issue warning letters that would result in adverse publicity;
impose civil or criminal penalties;
suspend or withdraw regulatory approvals;
suspend any of our ongoing clinical trials;
refuse to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications submitted by us;
impose restrictions on our operations, including closing our contract manufacturers’ facilities;
seize or detain products; or
require a product recall.
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Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response and could generate
negative publicity. Any failure to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements may significantly and adversely affect our ability to commercialize and
generate revenue from our products. If regulatory sanctions are applied or if regulatory approval is withdrawn, the value of our company and our operating
results will be adversely affected.
We have orphan drug designation from the FDA for latozinemab for treatment of FTD and may seek orphan drug designation for some of our other
product candidates, but we may be unable to obtain such designations or to maintain the benefits associated with orphan drug status, including market
exclusivity, which may cause our revenue, if any, to be reduced.
Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant orphan designation to a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition, defined as a
disease or condition with a patient population of fewer than 200,000 in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the United States
when there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available the drug or biologic in the United States will be recovered from
sales in the United States for that drug or biologic. Orphan drug designation must be requested before submitting an NDA or BLA. In the United States,
orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax advantages, and user-
fee waivers. After the FDA grants orphan drug designation, the generic identity of the drug and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA.
Orphan drug designation does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the duration of, the regulatory review and approval process. While latozinemab has
(and AL101 previously had) orphan drug designation for treatment of FTD, we may be unable to reap the benefits associated with orphan drug status. In
addition, we may be unable to obtain orphan drug designation for any additional product candidates, if we seek such designation.
If a product that has orphan drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for a particular active ingredient for the disease for which
it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity. This means that the FDA may not approve any other NDA or BLA application to
market the same drug or biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances such as a showing of clinical superiority to the
product with orphan exclusivity, if FDA revokes the orphan drug designation, or if FDA finds that the holder of the orphan exclusivity has not assured the
availability of sufficient quantities of the orphan product to meet the needs of patients with the disease or condition for which the drug was designated.
Even though the FDA has approved orphan drug status for latozinemab for treatment of FTD, the FDA can still approve other drugs that have a different
active ingredient for use in treating FTD. Furthermore, orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent the FDA from approving another marketing application for
the same drug product for a different indication before the expiration of the orphan exclusivity period.
As discussed above, in litigation in 2021, a court disagreed with the FDA’s longstanding position that orphan drug exclusivity only applies to the
approved use or indication within an eligible disease, and not to all uses or indications within the entire designated disease or condition. This appellate
court decision created uncertainty in the application of orphan drug exclusivity. In January 2023, the FDA published a notice in the Federal Register to
clarify that while the agency complies with the applicable court ruling, the FDA intends to continue tying the scope of orphan-drug exclusivity to the uses
or indications for which a drug is approved, which permits other sponsors to obtain approval of a drug for new uses or indications within the same orphan
designated disease or condition that has not yet been approved. It is unclear how future litigation, legislation, agency decisions, and administrative actions
will impact the scope of orphan drug exclusivity.
We have obtained Fast Track designation and Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA, for latozinemab for the treatment of patients with
FTD carrying specific genetic mutation in the granulin gene, but we may be unable to obtain or maintain the benefits associated with the Fast Track
designation.
Fast Track designation is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of therapies which treat serious conditions and fill an unmet
medical need. Programs with Fast Track designation may benefit from early and frequent communications with the FDA, potential priority review, and the
ability to submit a rolling application for regulatory review. Fast Track designation applies to both the product and the specific indication for which it is
being studied.
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In December 2019, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for latozinemab, and in January 2020, the FDA granted Fast Track designation for
AL101, each for the treatment of patients with FTD carrying specific genetic mutations in the granulin gene. If our clinical development program does not
continue to meet the criteria for Fast Track designation, or if our clinical trials are suspended or terminated, or put on clinical hold due to unexpected
adverse events or issues with clinical supply, we may not realize all the benefits associated with the Fast Track program. For example, we inactivated the
AL101 IND for FTD in the third quarter of 2023, and therefore Fast Track designation no longer applies. Furthermore, Fast Track designation does not
change the standards for approval. Fast Track designation alone does not guarantee qualification for the FDA’s priority review procedures.
In February 2024, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to latozinemab for the treatment of FTD-GRN. The benefits of Breakthrough
Therapy designation include the same benefits as Fast Track designation, plus intensive guidance from the FDA to ensure an efficient drug development
program.
Healthcare legislative measures aimed at reducing healthcare costs may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Third-party payors, whether domestic or foreign, or governmental or commercial, are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling
healthcare costs. In both the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare
system that could impact our ability to sell our products profitably.
In particular, in 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted, which, among other things,
subjected biologic products to potential competition by lower-cost biosimilars, addressed a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers
under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted, or injected, increased the minimum
Medicaid rebates owed by most manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, extended the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to utilization of
prescriptions of individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, subjected manufacturers to new annual fees and taxes for certain branded
prescription drugs, and provided incentives to programs that increase the federal government’s comparative effectiveness research. In June 2021, the United
States Supreme Court held that Texas and other challengers had no legal standing to challenge the ACA, dismissing the case without specifically ruling on
the constitutionality of the ACA. Accordingly, the ACA remains in effect in its current form. It is unclear how this Supreme Court decision, future
litigation, or healthcare measures promulgated by administrative or legislative action will impact our business, financial condition, and results of
operations. Complying with any new legislation or changes in healthcare regulation could be time-intensive and expensive, resulting in a material adverse
effect on our business.
Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, effective January 1, 2024, the statutory cap on Medicaid Drug Rebate Program rebates that
manufacturers pay to state Medicaid programs will be eliminated. Elimination of this cap may require pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay more in rebates
than they receive on the sale of approved products, which could have a material impact on our business. In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation
Reduction Act of 2022, which includes prescription drug provisions that have significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry and Medicare
beneficiaries, including allowing the federal government to negotiate a maximum fair price for certain high-priced single source Medicare drugs, imposing
penalties and excise tax for manufacturers that fail to comply with the drug price negotiation requirements, requiring inflation rebates for all Medicare Part
B and Part D drugs, with limited exceptions, if their drug prices increase faster than inflation, and redesigning Medicare Part D to reduce out-of-pocket
prescription drug costs for beneficiaries, among other changes. In March 2023, the CMS published its first guidance on how negotiations will be
conducted, starting in 2026 for high expenditure drugs as determined and selected by Health and Human Services. In June 2023, CMS issued a revised
guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program under the Inflation Reduction Act. Various industry stakeholders, including pharmaceutical
companies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Infusion Center Association, the Global Colon Cancer Association, and the Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America, have initiated lawsuits against the federal government asserting that the price negotiation provisions of the
Inflation Reduction Act are unconstitutional. The impact of these judicial challenges as well as future legislative, executive, and administrative actions and
agency rules implemented by the government on us and the pharmaceutical industry as a whole is unclear. The implementation of cost containment
measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our product candidates if
approved.
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Many states have proposed or enacted legislation that seeks to indirectly or directly regulate pharmaceutical drug pricing, such as by requiring
biopharmaceutical manufacturers to publicly report proprietary pricing information or to place a maximum price ceiling on pharmaceutical products
purchased by state agencies. For example, a number of states are considering or have recently enacted state drug price transparency and reporting laws that
could substantially increase our compliance burdens and expose us to greater liability under such state laws once we begin commercialization after
obtaining regulatory approval for any of our products candidates. Such initiatives and legislation may affect the prices we may obtain or demand for any of
our product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval.
Further, in April 2022, CMS released a national policy for coverage of aducanumab and any future monoclonal antibodies directed against amyloid
approved by the FDA with an indication for use in treating Alzheimer’s disease. CMS reiterated this policy in January 2023 in connection with the
accelerated approval of lecanemab. According to the two-part National Coverage Determination (NCD), Medicare will cover monoclonal antibodies that
target amyloid (or plaque) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease that receive traditional approval from the FDA under coverage with evidence
development. Following full approval of lecanemab in July 2023, CMS reiterated that it would broadly cover the medication while continuing to gather
data. Additionally, for drugs that FDA has not determined to have shown a clinical benefit or that received an accelerated approval, Medicare will provide
coverage in FDA or National Institutes of Health approved clinical trials. In February 2023, CMS again reiterated these policies in rejecting a petition from
the Alzheimer’s Association to provide wider coverage for lecanemab. In June 2023, CMS announced that Medicare will cover new Alzheimer’s drugs
with traditional FDA approval when a physician and clinical team participate in CMS’ registry to collect evidence on how these drugs work in the real
world. Current and future CMS coverage restrictions on classes of drugs that encompass our product candidates could have a material adverse impact on
our ability to commercialize our product candidates, if approved, generate revenue and attain profitability. It is unclear how future CMS coverage decisions
and policies will impact our business.
At the state level, legislatures have increasingly passed legislation and implemented regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological
product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and
transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. A number of states are
considering or have recently enacted state drug price transparency and reporting laws that could substantially increase our compliance requirements and
expose us to greater liability under such state laws once we begin commercialization after obtaining regulatory approval for any of our products. Further,
FDA recently authorized the state of Florida to import certain prescription drugs from Canada for a period of two years to help reduce drug costs, provided
that Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration meets the requirements set forth by the FDA. Other states may follow Florida.
We are unable to predict the future course of federal or state healthcare legislation in the United States directed at broadening the availability of
healthcare and containing or lowering the cost of healthcare. These and any further changes in the law or regulatory framework that reduce our revenue or
increase our costs could also have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed care organizations, and other payors of healthcare services to contain or
reduce costs of healthcare and/or impose price controls may adversely affect:
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our ability to receive or set a price that we believe is fair for our products;
our ability to generate revenue and achieve or maintain profitability;
the level of taxes that we are required to pay; and
the availability of capital.
We expect that the above healthcare reform measures and others that may be adopted in the future, may result in additional reductions in Medicare
and other healthcare funding, more rigorous coverage criteria, lower reimbursement, and new payment methodologies. Any reduction in reimbursement
from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. This could lower the price that we receive
for any approved product. There may be further federal and state legislation and regulations
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designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain
product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures. Any denial in coverage or reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other
government-funded programs may result in a similar denial or reduction in payments from private payors, which may prevent us from being able to
generate sufficient revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our product candidates, if approved. In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress
of the FDA’s approval process may significantly delay or prevent marketing approval, as well as subject us to more stringent product labeling and post-
marketing testing and other requirements.
Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial partners, and vendors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities,
including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
We are exposed to the risk of fraud, misconduct, or other illegal activity by our employees, independent contractors, consultants, commercial
partners, and vendors. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless, and negligent conduct that fails to:
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comply with the laws of the FDA, EMA, and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities;
provide true, complete, and accurate information to the FDA, EMA, and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities;
comply with clinical or manufacturing standards;
comply with healthcare fraud and abuse laws in the United States and similar foreign fraudulent misconduct laws; or
report financial information or data accurately or to disclose unauthorized activities to us.
If we obtain FDA approval of any of our product candidates and begin commercializing those products in the United States, our potential exposure
under such laws will increase significantly, and our costs associated with compliance with such laws are also likely to increase. In particular, research,
sales, marketing, education, and other business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws designed to prevent fraud, kickbacks,
self-dealing, and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, educating, marketing and
promotion, sales and commission, certain customer incentive programs, and other business arrangements generally. We have adopted a code of business
conduct and ethics, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by employees and third parties, and the precautions we take to detect and
prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or
other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful
in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant fines or
other sanctions.
If we fail to comply with healthcare laws, we could face substantial penalties and our business, operations, and financial conditions could be adversely
affected.
If we obtain FDA approval for any of our product candidates and begin commercializing those products in the United States, our operations will be
subject to various federal and state fraud and abuse laws. The laws that may impact our operations include the following:
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Among other things the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, prohibits, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering, or
paying any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce,
or in return for, either the referral of an individual, or the purchase, lease, order, or recommendation of any good, facility, item or service for
which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a federal healthcare program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. A
person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation.
In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback
Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act.
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Federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, including the False Claims Act, impose criminal and civil
penalties, including through civil “qui tam” or “whistleblower” actions, against individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or
causing to be presented, claims for payment or approval from Medicare, Medicaid, or other third-party payors that are false or fraudulent or
knowingly making a false statement to improperly avoid, decrease, or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government.
Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of these statutes or specific intent to
violate them in order to have committed a violation.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit
knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or obtain, by means of
false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any
healthcare benefit program, regardless of the payor (e.g., public or private) and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing, or covering
up by any trick or device a material fact or making any materially false statements in connection with the delivery of, or payment for,
healthcare benefits, items or services relating to healthcare matters.
HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH) and their respective
implementing regulations, impose requirements on certain covered healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses as well
as their respective business associates that perform services for them that involve the use, or disclosure of, individually identifiable health
information, relating to the privacy, security, and transmission of individually identifiable health information without appropriate
authorization.
The federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act, created under the ACA, and its implementing regulations, require applicable manufacturers
of drugs, devices, biologicals, and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health
Insurance Program to report annually to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Open Payments Program,
information related to payments and other transfers of value made to covered recipients, including physicians (defined to include doctors,
dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors), certain non-physician healthcare professionals (such as nurse practitioners and
physician assistants, among others) and teaching hospitals, and information regarding ownership and investment interests held by
physicians (as defined by law) and their immediate family members.
Federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm
consumers.
Analogous state and foreign laws and regulations, such as state and foreign anti-kickback, false claims, consumer protection, and unfair
competition laws may apply to pharmaceutical business practices, including but not limited to, research, distribution, sales, and marketing
arrangements, as well as submitting claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by any third-party payer, including
commercial insurers.
State laws require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines, and the
relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government that otherwise restricts payments that may be made to healthcare
providers and other potential referral sources.
State laws also require drug manufacturers to file reports with states regarding pricing and marketing information, such as the tracking and
reporting of gifts, compensations and other remuneration, and items of value provided to healthcare professionals and entities.
State and foreign laws also govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, such as Washington’s My
Health, My Data Act, which, among other things, provides for a private right of action. Many of these laws differ from each other in
significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts.
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our
business activities could, despite our efforts to comply, be subject to challenge under
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one or more of such laws. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements will comply with applicable healthcare laws may involve substantial costs. It is
possible that governmental and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations
or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not
successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of civil,
criminal, and administrative penalties, damages, disgorgement, monetary fines, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and other
federal healthcare programs, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, and curtailment of our operations, any of
which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations. In addition, the approval and commercialization of any of our
product candidates outside the United States will also likely subject us to foreign equivalents of the healthcare laws mentioned above, among other foreign
laws.
If we or any contract manufacturers and suppliers we engage fail to comply with environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, we could
become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We and any contract manufacturers and suppliers we engage are subject to numerous federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety laws,
regulations, and permitting requirements, including those governing laboratory procedures; the generation, handling, use, storage, treatment, and disposal
of hazardous and regulated materials and wastes; the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into the ground, air, and water; and employee health
and safety. Our operations involve the use of hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals and biological and radioactive materials. Our
operations also produce hazardous waste. We generally contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the
risk of contamination or injury from these materials. In the event of contamination or injury resulting from our use of hazardous materials, we could be held
liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources. Under certain environmental laws, we could be held responsible for costs
relating to any contamination at our current or past facilities and at third-party facilities. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or
criminal fines and penalties.
Compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations may be expensive, and current or future environmental laws and regulations may
impair our research, product development, and manufacturing efforts. In addition, we cannot entirely eliminate the risk of accidental injury or
contamination from these materials or wastes. Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur
due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential
liabilities. We do not carry specific biological or hazardous waste insurance coverage, and our property, casualty, and general liability insurance policies
specifically exclude coverage for damages and fines arising from biological or hazardous waste exposure or contamination. Accordingly, in the event of
contamination or injury, we could be held liable for damages or be penalized with fines in an amount exceeding our resources, and our clinical trials or
regulatory approvals could be suspended, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and
prospects.
Our business is subject to complex and evolving U.S. and foreign laws and regulations relating to security, privacy and data protection. These laws and
regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and could result in claims, changes to our business practices, or monetary penalties,
and otherwise may harm our business.
A wide variety of state, national, and international laws and regulations apply to security and cybersecurity requirements and the collection, use,
retention, protection, disclosure, transfer, and other processing of personal data, including the data obtained in our clinical trials. These laws and regulations
include the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and similar requirements in other jurisdictions, as well as state privacy laws
within the United States. These security and data protection and privacy-related laws and regulations are evolving and may result in ever-increasing
regulatory and public scrutiny and escalating levels of enforcement and sanctions. We are continually working to comply with these laws, and we have
devoted, and anticipate needing to continue to devote significant additional resources to our compliance efforts. It is possible that new legislation or
regulations may impose new obligations and requirements on similarly situated companies, and these laws or regulations may be interpreted and applied in
a manner that is inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, that can result in new or modified compliance obligation or that may be inconsistent with our
policies and practices. Our
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actual or perceived failure to adequately comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to security, privacy, and data protection, or to protect our
systems, personal data, and other data we process or maintain, could result in regulatory fines, investigations and enforcement actions, penalties and other
liabilities, claims for damages by affected individuals, and damage to our reputation, and could impact our ability to use, process, disclose, or transfer data
obtained in our clinical trials, any of which could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Inadequate funding for the FDA and other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel,
prevent new products and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from performing
normal business functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels,
ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory, and policy changes. Average review times at the
agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies on which our operations may rely,
including those that fund research and development activities is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. Disruptions at
the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new drugs to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which
would adversely affect our business. In the past, the U.S. government has experienced budgetary shutdowns and certain regulatory agencies, such as the
FDA, have had to furlough critical FDA and other government employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could
significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business. Further, in our operations as a public company, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain
necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
Our business activities may be subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), similar anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, and other
regulations.
Our business activities may be subject to the FCPA and similar anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, regulations, or rules of other countries in which
we operate, including the U.K. Bribery Act. The FCPA generally prohibits offering, promising, giving, or authorizing others to give anything of value,
either directly or indirectly, to a non-U.S. government official in order to influence official action, or otherwise obtain or retain business. The FCPA also
requires public companies to make and keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the corporation and to devise and
maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. Our business is heavily regulated and therefore involves significant interaction with public
officials, including officials of non-U.S. governments. Additionally, in many other countries, the healthcare providers who engage in our clinical trials or
prescribe pharmaceuticals are employed by their government, and the purchasers of pharmaceuticals are government entities; therefore, our dealings with
these investigators, prescribers and purchasers are subject to regulation under the FCPA.
Recently the SEC and Department of Justice have increased their FCPA enforcement activities with respect to biotechnology and pharmaceutical
companies. There is no certainty that all of our employees, agents, contractors, or collaborators, or those of our affiliates, will comply with all applicable
laws and regulations, particularly given the high level of complexity of these laws. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines, criminal
sanctions against us, our officers, or our employees, the closing down of our facilities, requirements to obtain export licenses, cessation of business
activities in sanctioned countries, implementation of compliance programs, and prohibitions on the conduct of our business. Any such violations could
include prohibitions on our ability to offer our products in one or more countries and could materially damage our reputation, our brand, our international
expansion efforts, our ability to attract and retain employees, and our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition.
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Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties
We expect to depend on collaborations with third parties for the research, development, and commercialization of certain of the product candidates we
may develop. If any such collaborations are not successful, we may not be able to realize the market potential of those product candidates.
We currently use and expect to continue to use third-party collaborators for the research, development, and commercialization of certain of the
product candidates we may develop, including our arrangements with AbbVie, GSK, and Adimab. As discussed previously, GSK can terminate its GSK
Agreement with us, subject to certain notice provisions, in its entirety and for convenience at any time. Similarly, AbbVie can terminate the AbbVie
Agreement for convenience at any point during the term of the agreement, including the research, development, and clinical trial process. Adimab can
terminate its agreements with us in the event of uncured materials breaches, and subject to certain notice requirements. In the event that one of our current
third-party collaborators discontinues its collaboration with us, we may not be able to find a suitable alternative collaboration partner or partners, or we
may need to obtain and expend additional and unanticipated capital to maintain our current development programs.
Our likely collaborators for any other collaboration arrangements include large and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies, regional and national
pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and academic institutions. Such arrangements with any third parties, generally provide us with
shared or limited control over the amount and timing of resources that our collaborators dedicate to the development or potential commercialization of any
product candidates we may seek to develop with them. Our ability to generate revenue from these arrangements with commercial entities will depend on
our collaborators’ abilities to successfully perform the functions assigned to them in these arrangements. We cannot predict the success of our current
collaborations or any collaboration that we may enter into.
Collaborations involving our research programs, or any product candidates we may develop, pose risks to us, including the following:
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collaborators generally have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to these collaborations;
collaborators may decide to not pursue development and commercialization of any product candidates we develop or may elect not to
continue or renew development or commercialization programs, for example, based on clinical trial results, changes in the collaborator’s
strategic focus or available funding, the collaborator’s assessment regarding the commercial viability of the product candidate, or external
factors such as an acquisition that diverts resources or creates competing priorities or collaborators may elect to fund or commercialize a
competing product;
collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for a clinical trial program, provide insufficient quantities of materials
for a clinical trial program, stop a clinical trial or abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials, or require a new
formulation of a product candidate for clinical testing;
collaborations may be terminated in their entirety or with respect to certain product candidates or technologies and, if so terminated, may
result in a need for additional capital to pursue further development or commercialization of the applicable product candidates or
technologies;
collaborators may not properly obtain, maintain, enforce, or defend intellectual property or proprietary rights relating to our product
candidates or research programs or may use our proprietary information in such a way as to expose us to potential litigation or other
intellectual property related proceedings, including proceedings challenging the scope, ownership, validity, and enforceability of our
intellectual property;
collaborators may own or co-own intellectual property covering our product candidates or research and development programs that results
from our collaboration with them, and in such cases, we may not have the exclusive right to commercialize such intellectual property or
such product candidates or research programs;
we may need the cooperation of our collaborators to enforce or defend any intellectual property we contribute to or that arises out of our
collaborations, which may not be provided to us;
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collaborators may control certain interactions with regulatory authorities, which may impact our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory
approval of our product candidates;
disputes may arise between the collaborators and us that result in the delay or termination of the research, development, or
commercialization of our product candidates or research programs or that result in costly litigation or arbitration that diverts management
attention and resources;
collaborators could independently develop, or develop with third parties, products that compete directly or indirectly with our product
candidates or research programs if the collaborators believe that competitive products are more likely to be successfully developed or can
be commercialized under terms that are more economically attractive than ours;
collaborators may restrict us from researching, developing, or commercializing certain products or technologies without their involvement;
collaborators with manufacturing, marketing, or distribution rights to one or more product candidates may not commit sufficient resources
to the manufacture, marketing, or distribution of such product candidates;
we may lose certain valuable rights under circumstances identified in our collaborations, including if we undergo a change of control;
collaborators may grant sublicenses to our technology or product candidates or undergo a change of control, and the sublicensees or new
owners may decide to take the collaboration in a direction which is not in our best interest;
collaborators may become bankrupt, which may significantly delay our research or development programs, or may cause us to lose access
to valuable technology, know-how, or intellectual property of the collaborator relating to our products, product candidates, or research
programs;
key personnel at our collaborators may leave, which could negatively impact our ability to productively work with our collaborators;
collaborations may require us to incur short and long-term expenditures, issue securities that dilute our stockholders, or disrupt our
management and business;
if our collaborators do not satisfy their obligations under our agreements with them, if they terminate our collaborations with them, or if we
fail to satisfy our obligations to our collaborators, we may not be able to develop or commercialize product candidates as planned;
the terms of a collaboration agreement may be amended in a manner that could negatively impact us;
collaborations may require us to share in development and commercialization costs pursuant to budgets that we do not fully control, and our
failure to share in such costs could have a detrimental impact on the collaboration or our ability to share in revenue generated under the
collaboration;
collaboration agreements may not lead to development or commercialization of product candidates in the most efficient manner or at all;
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if a present or future collaborator of ours were to be involved in a business combination, the continued pursuit and emphasis on our
development or commercialization program under such collaboration could be delayed, diminished, or terminated.
For example, AbbVie, after reviewing the CD33 collaboration program with us, decided to terminate the CD33 collaboration program, under which
AL003 was being developed. Additionally, GSK is conducting the PROGRESS-AD Phase 2 trial with AL101/GSK4527226, and Alector is responsible for
up to $140.5 million of the costs of such study. As such, the timing at which such costs are incurred, and the day-to-day operations of conducting such
study are not within Alector’s control.
We may face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborations. For example, business combinations among biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies have resulted in a reduced number of potential collaborators. In addition, the negotiation process is time-consuming and
complex, and we may not be able to
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negotiate 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 its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its
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. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development or commercialization activities on our own,
we may need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we do not have sufficient funds, we may not be
able to further develop product candidates or bring them to market and generate product revenue.
We may not realize the benefit of collaborations if we or our collaborator elects not to exercise the rights granted under the agreement or if we or our
collaborator are unable to successfully integrate a product candidate into existing operations and company culture. For example, AbbVie may decide not to
exercise its exclusive option to develop and commercialize our TREM2 program, and in that case, we would not receive a $250.0 million milestone
payment for such opt-in or any future payments, and all rights to the TREM2 program would revert back to us. In addition, if our agreement with any of
our collaborators terminates, our access to technology and intellectual property licensed to us by that collaborator may be restricted or terminate entirely,
which may delay our continued development of our product candidates utilizing the collaborator’s technology or intellectual property or require us to stop
development of those product candidates completely. We may also find it more difficult to find a suitable replacement collaborator or attract new
collaborators, and our development programs may be delayed or the perception of us in the business and financial communities could be adversely affected.
Many of the risks relating to product development, regulatory approval, and commercialization described in this “Risk Factors” section also apply to the
activities of our collaborators and any negative impact on our collaborators may adversely affect us.
We expect to rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials and some aspects of our research and preclinical testing, and those third parties may not
perform satisfactorily, including failing to meet deadlines for the completion of such trials, research, or testing.
We currently rely and expect to continue to rely on third parties, such as CROs, clinical data management organizations, medical institutions, and
clinical investigators, to conduct some aspects of our research and preclinical testing and our clinical trials. Any of these third parties may terminate their
engagements with us or be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. If we need to enter into alternative arrangements, it would delay our product
development activities.
Our reliance on these third parties for research and development activities reduces our control over these activities but does not relieve us of our
responsibilities. For example, we remain responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the general investigational
plan and protocols for the trial. For example, if our CROs or clinical sites deviate from the clinical protocol or cGCPs, then such deviations could have
serious negative impacts on our trials, including exclusion of patients or sites from our trials, which could put patients at risk or make assessment of the
clinical endpoints infeasible or inconclusive. Moreover, the FDA requires us to comply with cGCPs for conducting, recording, and reporting the results of
clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are credible, reproducible, and accurate and that the rights, integrity, and confidentiality of trial
participants are protected. We also are required to register ongoing clinical trials and post the results of completed clinical trials on government-sponsored
databases within certain timeframes. We may also be exposed to additional liabilities if our contracted third parties engage in activities associated with
improper use of information obtained in the course of patient recruitment for our clinical trials, cGCP noncompliance or noncompliance under applicable
privacy laws, which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation and business operations. Failure to do so can result in
fines, adverse publicity, and civil and criminal sanctions.
If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, meet expected deadlines, or conduct our clinical trials in accordance with
regulatory requirements or our stated protocols, we will not be able to obtain, or may be delayed in obtaining, clinical data to advance development of any
of our product candidates or to achieve marketing approvals for any of our product candidates and we will not be able to, or may be delayed in our efforts
to, successfully commercialize our medicines.
We also expect to rely on other third parties to store and distribute drug supplies for our clinical trials. Any performance failure on the part of our
distributors, including with the shipment of any drug supplies, could delay clinical development or marketing approval of any product candidates we may
develop or commercialization of our medicines, producing additional losses and depriving us of potential product revenue.
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We contract with third parties for the manufacture of materials for our research programs, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and for commercialization
of any product candidates that we may develop. Additionally, GSK, and AbbVie, have certain product manufacturing rights under their respective
agreements. This reliance on third parties carries and may increase the risk that we will not have sufficient quantities of such materials, product
candidates, or any medicines that we may develop and commercialize, or that such supply will not be available to us at an acceptable cost, which could
delay, prevent, or impair our development or commercialization efforts.
We do not have any manufacturing facilities. We currently rely on CDMOs for the manufacture of our materials for preclinical studies and clinical
trials and expect to continue to do so for preclinical studies, clinical trials, and for commercial supply of any product candidates that we may develop. We
currently have established relationships with several CDMOs for the manufacture of each of our product candidates, as well as with GSK for latozinemab
and AL101, and with AbbVie for AL002. We may be unable to establish any further agreements with CDMOs or to do so on acceptable terms. Even if we
are able to establish agreements with third-party manufacturers, reliance on CDMOs entails additional risks, including:
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the possible breach of the manufacturing agreement by the third party;
the possible termination or nonrenewal of the agreement by the third party at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us;
reliance on the third party for regulatory compliance, quality assurance, safety, and pharmacovigilance and related reporting; and
the inability to produce required volume in a timely manner and to quality standards.
Third-party manufacturers may not be able to comply with cGMP regulations or similar regulatory requirements outside the United States. Our
failure, or the failure of our CDMOs or collaboration partners, to comply with applicable regulations could result in clinical holds on our trials, sanctions
being imposed on us, including fines, injunctions, civil penalties, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, license revocations, seizures, or recalls of
product candidates or medicines, operating restrictions, and criminal prosecutions, any of which could significantly and adversely affect supplies of our
medicines and harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Any medicines that we may develop may compete with other product candidates and products for access to manufacturing facilities. There are a
limited number of manufacturers that operate under cGMP regulations and that might be capable of manufacturing for us.
Any performance failure on the part of our existing or future third-party manufacturers could delay clinical development or marketing approval. If
any one of our current contract manufacturers cannot perform as agreed, we may be required to replace that manufacturer and may incur added costs and
delays in identifying and qualifying any such replacement. Furthermore, securing and reserving production capacity with contract manufacturers may result
in significant costs.
Our current and anticipated future dependence upon others for the manufacture of any product candidates we may develop may adversely affect our
future profit margins and our ability to commercialize any medicines that receive marketing approval on a timely and competitive basis.
We, and the CDMO partners on which we rely, depend on third-party suppliers for key raw materials used in our manufacturing processes, and the loss
of these third-party suppliers or their inability to supply us with adequate raw materials, could harm our business.
We and the CDMO partners on which we rely depend on third-party suppliers for the supply of the raw materials required for the production of our
product candidates, and we expect to continue to depend on third-party manufacturers for the commercial supply of any of our product candidates for
which we obtain marketing approval. Their dependence on these third-party suppliers and the challenges faced in obtaining adequate supplies of raw
materials involve several risks, including supply chain issues caused by the effects of worldwide economic conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic,
national security concerns, export or import restrictions, trade tariffs, or other geopolitical events, limited control over pricing, the availability of such
materials, the quality of such materials, and delivery schedules. To the extent our business relies on customers, vendors, or suppliers in countries where the
U.S. government has imposed any of these or other trade restrictions, our business may experience a
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material adverse effect. As a small company, our negotiation leverage is limited, and we are likely to get lower priority than our competitors who are larger
than we are. We do not have long-term supply agreements, and we purchase our required drug product on a development manufacturing services agreement
or purchase order basis. We cannot be certain that suppliers will continue to provide the quantities of these raw materials that are required or satisfy the
anticipated specifications and quality requirements. Any supply interruption in limited or sole sourced raw materials, including those caused by the effects
of worldwide economic conditions including the COVID-19 pandemic or other geopolitical events, could materially harm our ability to manufacture our
product candidates until a new source of supply, if any, can be identified and qualified. In such an event, we may be unable to find a sufficient alternative
supply channel in a reasonable time or on commercially reasonable terms. Any performance failure on the part of the suppliers could delay the
development and potential commercialization of our product candidates, including limiting supplies necessary for clinical trials and regulatory approvals,
which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
If we are unable to obtain and maintain patent protection for any product candidates we develop, our competitors could develop and commercialize
products similar or identical to ours, and our ability to successfully commercialize any product candidates we may develop may be adversely affected.
Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection in the United States and other countries with respect to our
proprietary product candidates and other technologies we may develop. We seek to protect our proprietary position by filing patent applications in the
United States and abroad relating to our core programs and product candidates, as well as other technologies that are important to our business. As our
product candidates enter and progress through clinical development, we continue to pursue intellectual property protection with respect to certain aspects of
those product candidates. For example, we have filed or intend to file patent applications on aspects of our technology and core product candidates;
however, there can be no assurance that any such patent applications will issue as granted patents. Furthermore, in cases in which we have only filed
provisional patent applications on certain aspects of our technology and product candidates, each of those provisional patent applications is not eligible to
become an issued patent until, among other things, we file a non-provisional patent application within 12 months of the filing date of the applicable
provisional patent application. Any failure to file a non-provisional patent application within this timeline could cause us to lose the ability to obtain patent
protection for the inventions disclosed in the associated provisional patent applications. Furthermore, in some cases, we may not be able to obtain issued
claims covering compositions relating to our core programs and product candidates, as well as other technologies that are important to our business, and
instead may need to rely on filing patent applications with claims covering a method of use and/or method of manufacture for protection of such core
programs, product candidates, and other technologies. There can be no assurance that any such patent applications will issue as granted patents, and even if
they do issue, such patent claims may be insufficient to prevent third parties, such as our competitors, from utilizing our technology. Any failure to obtain
or maintain patent protection with respect to our core programs and product candidates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations, and prospects.
If any of our patent applications, or those of our collaborators, do not issue as patents in any jurisdiction, we may not be able to compete effectively.
Changes in either the patent laws or their interpretation in the United States and other countries may diminish our ability to protect our inventions,
obtain, maintain, and enforce our intellectual property rights and, more generally, could affect the value of our intellectual property or narrow the scope of
our patents or those of our collaborators with respect to our product candidates. With respect to both our intellectual property and that of our collaborators
related to our product candidates, we cannot predict whether the patent applications we and our collaborators are currently pursuing will issue as patents in
any particular jurisdiction or whether the claims of any issued patents will provide sufficient protection from competitors or other third parties.
The patent prosecution process is expensive, time-consuming, and complex, and we or our collaborators may not be able to file, prosecute, maintain,
enforce, or license all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we will fail to identify
patentable aspects of our research and development output in time to obtain patent protection. Although we enter into nondisclosure and confidentiality
agreements with parties who have access to confidential or patentable aspects of our research and development output, such as our employees, corporate
collaborators, outside scientific collaborators, CROs,
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CDMOs, consultants, advisors, and other third parties, any of these parties may breach the agreements and disclose such output before a patent application
is filed, thereby jeopardizing our ability to seek patent protection. In addition, our ability to obtain and maintain valid and enforceable patents depends on
whether the differences between our inventions and the prior art allow our inventions to be patentable over the prior art. Furthermore, publications of
discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are
typically not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all. Therefore, we cannot be certain that we or our collaborators were first to file
for patent protection of such inventions.
If the scope of any patent protection we obtain is not sufficiently broad, or if we lose any of our patent protection, our ability to prevent our competitors
from commercializing similar or identical technology and product candidates would be adversely affected.
The patent position of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies generally is highly uncertain, involves complex legal and factual questions, and
has been the subject of much litigation in recent years. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability, and commercial value of our patent rights
are highly uncertain. Our or our collaborators’ pending and future patent applications may not result in patents being issued which protect our product
candidates or other technologies or which effectively prevent others from commercializing competitive technologies and product candidates.
Moreover, the coverage claimed in a patent application can be significantly reduced before the patent is issued, and its scope can be reinterpreted
after issuance. Even if patent applications we or our collaborators license or own currently or in the future issue as patents, they may not issue in a form that
will provide us with any meaningful protection, prevent competitors or other third parties from competing with us, or otherwise provide us with any
competitive advantage. Any patents to which we or our collaborators have rights may be challenged, narrowed, circumvented, or invalidated by third
parties. Consequently, we do not know whether product candidates or other technologies will be protectable or remain protected by valid and enforceable
patents. Our competitors or other third parties may be able to circumvent our patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-
infringing manner which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity, or enforceability, and our patents may be challenged in the courts or
patent offices in the United States and abroad. We or our collaborators may be subject to a third-party pre-issuance submission of prior art to the United
States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or foreign patent offices or become involved in opposition, derivation, revocation, reexamination, post-grant
and inter partes review, inventorship dispute, or interference proceedings or other similar proceedings challenging our or our collaborators’ patent rights.
An adverse determination in any such submission, proceeding, or litigation could reduce the scope of, or invalidate or render unenforceable, such patent
rights, allow third parties to commercialize our product candidates or other technologies and compete directly with us, without payment to us. Moreover,
we, or any one of our collaborators, may have to participate in post-grant challenge proceedings, such as oppositions in a foreign patent office, in which a
third party challenges the features of patentability with respect to our or our collaborators’ patents and patent applications. Such challenges may result in
loss of patent rights, loss of exclusivity, or in patent claims being narrowed, invalidated, or held unenforceable, which could limit our ability to stop others
from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products, or limit the duration of the patent protection for our product candidates and
other technologies. Such proceedings also may result in substantial cost and require significant time from our scientists and management, even if the
eventual outcome is favorable to us. If we or our collaborators are unsuccessful in any such proceeding or other inventorship dispute, we may be required
to obtain and maintain licenses from third parties. Such licenses may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or may be non-exclusive.
If we are unable to obtain and maintain such licenses, we may need to cease the development, manufacture, and commercialization of one or more of the
product candidates we may develop. The loss of exclusivity or the narrowing of our owned and licensed patent claims could limit our ability to stop others
from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products.
In addition, given the amount of time required for the development, testing, and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting
such product candidates might expire before or shortly after such product candidates are commercialized. As a result, our intellectual property may not
provide us with rights to exclude others for sufficient period of time from commercializing products similar or identical to ours.
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Some of our patents and patent applications may be co-owned with third parties. In addition, collaborators or future licensors may co-own their
patents and patent applications with other third parties with whom we do not have a direct relationship. Our rights to certain of these patents and patent
applications may be dependent, in part, on inter-institutional or other operating agreements between the joint owners of such patents and patent
applications, who are not parties to our license agreements. If our collaborators or future licensors do not have exclusive control of the grant of licenses
under any such third-party co-owners’ interest in such patents or patent applications or we are otherwise unable to secure such exclusive rights, such co-
owners may be able to license their rights to other third parties, including our competitors, and our competitors could market competing products and
technology to the extent such products and technology are not also covered by our intellectual property. In addition, we may need the cooperation of any
such co-owners of our patents in order to enforce such patents against third parties, and such cooperation may not be provided to us. Any of the foregoing
could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial conditions, results of operations, and prospects.
Our rights to develop and commercialize are subject, in part, to the terms and conditions of agreements with others, including terms and conditions
regarding intellectual property rights.
We rely on certain patent rights and proprietary technology from third parties that are important or necessary to the development of our product
candidates, and development and commercialization of our product candidates are subject to the terms and conditions of certain collaboration agreements
with third parties. For example, in 2014 we entered into the Adimab Collaboration Agreement with Adimab. Under the 2014 Adimab Collaboration
Agreement, we are developing antibodies discovered by Adimab in our latozinemab and AL101 product candidates, and we are developing an antibody
optimized by Adimab in our AL002 product candidate. In August 2019, we entered into a new collaboration agreement with Adimab for development of
antibodies for use in future programs. In 2021, we entered into another collaboration agreement with Adimab, which granted us an exclusive option to
obtain a specified number of engineered sequences discovered or optimized by Adimab and directed against targets that we select. Additionally, in October
2017, we entered into an agreement with AbbVie to co-develop and commercialize medicines with AbbVie to treat Alzheimer’s disease and other
neurodegenerative diseases. In July 2021, we entered into the GSK Agreement to collaborate on the global development and commercialization of the
progranulin-elevating monoclonal antibodies, latozinemab and AL101.
Our agreements with Adimab, AbbVie, GSK, and other agreements we enter into in the future may not provide exclusive rights to use certain
intellectual property and technology retained by the collaborator in all relevant fields of use and in all territories in which we may wish to develop or
commercialize our technology and products in the future. As a result, we may not be able to prevent competitors or other third parties from developing and
commercializing competitive products that utilize technology retained by such collaborators to the extent such products are not also covered by our
intellectual property.
In addition, subject to the terms of any such agreements, we may not have the right to control the preparation, filing, prosecution, and maintenance,
and we may not have the right to control the enforcement and defense of certain patents and patent applications relating to or affecting our development
candidates. For example, the GSK Agreement provides GSK with certain rights with respect to preparation, filing, prosecution, maintenance, enforcement,
and defense of certain patents and patent applications.
We cannot be certain that patents and patent applications as to which preparation, filing, prosecution, maintenance, enforcement, or defense are
controlled by our collaborators will be prepared, filed, prosecuted, maintained, enforced, and defended in a manner consistent with the best interests of our
business. If our collaborators fail to prosecute, maintain, enforce, and defend such patents, or lose rights to those patents or patent applications, our rights to
such patents may be reduced or eliminated, our right to develop and commercialize any of our product candidates that are the subject of such rights could
be adversely affected, and we may have a reduced ability to prevent competitors from making, using, and selling competing products. In addition, even
where we have the right to control prosecution of patent applications we have licensed to and from collaborators, we may still be adversely affected or
prejudiced by actions or inactions of our collaborators that took place prior to the date upon which we assumed control of patent prosecution.
Furthermore, our or our collaborators’ patents may be subject to a reservation of rights by one or more third parties. For example, we received an
award from the National Institute of Health in support of our research into the production and characterization of novel therapeutic antibodies against the
neurotrophic factor PGRN degrading receptor SORT1. As a result, the U.S. government may have certain rights to resulting intellectual property. When
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new technologies are developed with U.S. government funding, the U.S. government generally obtains certain rights in any resulting patents, including a
non-exclusive license authorizing the U.S. government to use the invention or to have others use the invention on its behalf. The U.S. government’s rights
may also permit it to disclose the funded inventions and technology to third parties and to exercise march-in rights to use or allow third parties to use the
technology developed using U.S. government funding. The U.S. government may exercise its march-in rights if it determines that action is necessary
because we fail to achieve the practical application of the government funded technology, or because action is necessary to alleviate health or safety needs,
to meet requirements for public use under federal regulations, or to give preference to U.S. industry. In addition, our rights in such inventions may be
subject to certain requirements to manufacture products embodying such inventions in facilities in the United States in certain circumstances and if the U.S.
government does not waive this requirement. Any exercise by the U.S. government of such rights or by any third party of its reserved rights could have a
material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Moreover, the government may implement new policies and guidelines that impose certain risks on our intellectual property. On July 28, 2023,
President Biden issued an Executive Order that emphasized a preference for domestic manufacturing for subject inventions under the Bayh Dole Act. On
December 7, 2023, the National Institutes of Science and Technology (NIST) published a draft framework for expanding the use of the government’s
march-in rights under Bayh Dole. To date, the government has not exercised its march-in rights against any federal funding recipient (assignee or exclusive
licensee). However, the framework proposes using the price of pharmaceuticals as a factor in determining whether a federally funded drug is sufficiently
accessible to the public and as a basis for the exercise of the government’s march-in rights. If the final framework applies to certain inventions developed
with government funding and no waivers or exceptions apply, the U.S. government could exercise its march-in rights for these subject inventions under the
new framework, which could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
If we fail to comply with our obligations in the agreements under which we option or license intellectual property rights from our collaborators or
future licensors or otherwise experience disruptions to our business relationships with our collaborators or future licensors, we could lose intellectual
property rights that are important to our business.
We have entered into agreements with our collaborators to option or license certain intellectual property and may need to obtain additional
intellectual property rights from others to advance our research or allow commercialization of product candidates we may develop. It is possible that we
may be unable to obtain additional intellectual property rights at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all. In that event, we may be required to
expend significant time and resources to redesign our technology, product candidates, or the methods for manufacturing them or to develop or license
replacement technology, all of which may not be feasible on a technical or commercial basis. If we are unable to do so, we may be unable to develop or
commercialize the affected product candidates, which could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects significantly. We
cannot provide any assurances that third-party patents do not exist which might be enforced against our current technology, manufacturing methods,
product candidates, or future methods or products resulting in either an injunction prohibiting our manufacture or future sales, or, with respect to our future
sales, an obligation on our part to pay royalties and/or other forms of compensation to third parties, which could be significant.
In addition, each of our agreements with collaborators do, and we expect our future agreements will, impose various economic, development,
diligence, commercialization, and other obligations on us. Certain of our collaboration agreements also require us to meet development timelines, or to
exercise commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize licensed products. In spite of our efforts, our collaborators might conclude that we
have materially breached our obligations under such agreements and might therefore terminate or seek damages under the agreements, thereby removing or
limiting our ability to develop and commercialize products and technology covered by these agreements. If termination of these agreements causes us to
lose the rights to certain patents or other intellectual property, or if the underlying patents fail to provide the intended exclusivity, competitors or other third
parties may have the freedom to seek regulatory approval of, and to market, products similar to or identical to ours and we may be required to cease our
development and commercialization of certain of our product candidates. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive
position, business, financial conditions, results of operations, and growth prospects.
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Moreover, disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a collaboration agreement, including:
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the scope of the option or license rights granted under the agreement and other interpretation-related issues;
the extent to which our technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the collaborator that is not subject to the option or
license rights granted under the agreement;
the sublicensing of patent and other rights under our collaborative development relationships;
our diligence obligations under the agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations; and
the inventorship and ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our
collaborators and us and our other partners.
In addition, the agreements under which we currently have rights to option or license intellectual property or technology from third parties are
complex, and certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of any contract interpretation
disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or increase what
we believe to be our financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects. Moreover, if disputes over intellectual property that we have optioned or licensed prevent
or impair our ability to maintain our current arrangements on commercially acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize
the affected product candidates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations, and growth
prospects.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights throughout the world.
Filing, prosecuting, and defending patents on our product candidates and other technologies in all countries throughout the world would be
prohibitively expensive, and the laws of foreign countries may not protect our rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States.
Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or
importing products made using our inventions in or into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions
where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products, and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we
have patent protection but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our products, and our patents or other
intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal
systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents, trade secrets, and other intellectual property
protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology products, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of
competing products in violation of our intellectual property and proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our intellectual property and
proprietary rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put
our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly, could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing, and could provoke third parties to
assert counterclaims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be
commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain
a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.
Many countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many
countries limit the enforceability of patents against government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited
remedies, which could materially diminish the value of such patents. If we, our collaborators, or any of our future licensors is forced to grant a license to
third parties with respect to any patents relevant to our business, our competitive position may be impaired, and our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and prospects may be adversely affected.
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Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment, and other
requirements imposed by government patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these
requirements.
Periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees, and various other government fees on patents and applications will be due to the USPTO and
various government patent agencies outside of the United States over the lifetime of our owned or licensed patents and applications. In certain
circumstances, we rely on our collaborators or licensing partners to pay these fees due to U.S. and non-U.S. patent agencies. The USPTO and various non-
U.S. government agencies require compliance with several procedural, documentary, fee payment, and other similar provisions during the patent
application process. We also are dependent on our collaborators or licensors to take the necessary action to comply with these requirements with respect to
our licensed intellectual property. In some cases, an inadvertent lapse can be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the
applicable rules. There are situations, however, in which non-compliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in
a partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, potential competitors might be able to enter the market with similar
or identical products or technology, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth
prospects.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the sanctions targeting Russia, could interfere with filing of patent applications,
prosecution of applications, and maintenance of issued patents in Russia, Ukraine, and via the Eurasian Patent Office. For example, the conflict and
sanctions could interfere with payment of filing fees, extension fees, and annuities. The conflict and sanctions could also interfere with enforcement or
defense of patents issued in Russia, Ukraine, and via the Eurasian Patent Office. Similarly, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas could interfere
with our ability to prosecute, maintain, enforce and defend patents in Israel. These conflicts and associated sanctions could therefore increase the
uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of any future issued patents, all of which
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
Changes in U.S. patent law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products.
Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the
prosecution of patent applications and the enforcement or defense of issued patents. For example, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (the
America Invents Act), the first inventor to file a patent application in the United States is entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether
another party was the first to invent the claimed invention. Therefore, a third party that filed a patent application in the USPTO after March 2013, but
before us, could be awarded a patent covering an invention of ours even if we had made the invention before it was made by such third party. This
possibility requires us to be cognizant of the time from invention to the time of filing a patent application. Because patent applications in the United States
and most other countries are confidential for a period of time after filing or until issuance, we cannot be certain that we were the first to file any patent
application related to our product candidates or other technologies.
Certain procedures at the USPTO under the America Invents Act could affect the way patent applications are prosecuted and also may affect patent
litigation. These include allowing third party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the
validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review, and derivation proceedings. Because
of a lower evidentiary standard in USPTO proceedings compared to the evidentiary standard in United States federal courts necessary to invalidate a patent
claim, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim invalid even though the same
evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if presented in a district court action. Accordingly, a third party may attempt to use the USPTO
procedures to invalidate our patent claims that would not have been invalidated if challenged by the third party as a defendant in a district court action.
Therefore, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications
and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and prospects.
In addition, the patent positions of companies in the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals are particularly uncertain. Rulings from
the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit have narrowed the scope of patent protection available in certain
circumstances and weakened the rights of
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patent owners in certain situations. For example, in the recent Supreme Court decision, Amgen Inc. v. Sanofi, 143 S.Ct. 1243 (2023), the Court affirmed a
Federal Circuit decision and held that patent claims reciting a genus of antibodies defined by a functional property were invalid because the specification
did not provide sufficient teaching to make and use the full scope of the claimed genus. These rulings have created uncertainty with respect to the validity
and enforceability of patents, once obtained, for example, with respect to written description and enablement requirements. Depending on future actions by
the U.S. Congress, the federal courts, and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that could have a
material adverse effect on our existing patent portfolio and our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property in the future.
Issued patents covering our product candidates and other technologies could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court or before
administrative bodies in the United States or abroad.
If we initiated legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering our product candidates or other technologies, the defendant could
counterclaim that such patent is invalid or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity or
unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including
lack of novelty, obviousness, written description, or enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected
with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. Third parties may raise
claims challenging the validity or enforceability of our patents before administrative bodies in the United States or abroad, even outside the context of
litigation. Such mechanisms include re-examination, post-grant review, inter partes review, derivation proceedings, and equivalent proceedings in foreign
jurisdictions (e.g., opposition proceedings). Such proceedings could result in the revocation of, cancellation of, or amendment to our patents in such a way
that they no longer cover our product candidates or other technologies. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is
unpredictable. With respect to the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art, of which we or our licensing
partners and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a third party were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity or unenforceability, we
would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on our product candidates or other technologies. Such a loss of patent protection would
have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.
If we do not obtain patent term extension and data exclusivity for any product candidates we may develop, our business may be materially harmed.
Depending upon the timing, duration, and specifics of any FDA marketing approval of any product candidates we may develop, one or more of our
U.S. patents may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent term extension of up
to five years as compensation for patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. A patent term extension cannot extend the remaining term of a
patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval, only one patent may be extended and only those claims covering the approved drug, a
method for using it, or a method for manufacturing it may be extended. Similar extensions as compensation for patent term lost during regulatory review
processes are also available in certain foreign countries and territories, such as in Europe under a Supplementary Protection Certificate. However, we may
not be granted an extension in the United States and/or foreign countries and territories because of, for example, failing to exercise due diligence during the
testing phase or regulatory review process, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents, or otherwise
failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded could be less than we request. If
we are unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is shorter than what we request, our competitors may obtain approval of
competing products following our patent expiration, and our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects could be materially
harmed.
We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship of our patents and other intellectual property.
We may be subject to claims that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an interest in our patents, trade secrets, or other
intellectual property as an inventor or co-inventor. For example, we may have inventorship disputes arise from conflicting obligations of employees,
consultants, or others who are involved in developing our product candidates or other technologies. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and
other claims challenging inventorship or ownership of our patents, trade secrets, or other intellectual property. If the
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defense of any such claims fails, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights, such as exclusive ownership
of, or right to use, intellectual property that is important to our product candidates and other technologies. Even if we are successful in defending against
such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees. Any of the foregoing could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.
In addition to seeking patents for our product candidates and other technologies, we also rely on trade secrets and confidentiality agreements to
protect our unpatented know-how, technology, and other proprietary information and to maintain our competitive position. We consider trade secrets and
know-how to be one of our primary sources of intellectual property. Trade secrets and know-how can be difficult to protect. We expect our trade secrets and
know-how to over time be disseminated within the industry through independent development, the publication of journal articles describing the
methodology, and the movement of personnel from academic to industry scientific positions.
We seek to protect these trade secrets and other proprietary technology, in part, by entering into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with
parties who have access to them, such as our employees, corporate and academic collaborators, outside scientific collaborators, CROs, CDMOs,
consultants, advisors, and other third parties. We also enter into confidentiality and invention or patent assignment agreements with our employees and
consultants, train our employees not to bring or use proprietary information or technology from former employers to us or in their work, and remind former
employees when they leave their employment of their confidentiality obligations. We cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with
each party that may have or have had access to our trade secrets or proprietary technology and processes. Despite our efforts, any of these parties may
breach the agreements and disclose our proprietary information, including our trade secrets, and we may not be able to obtain adequate remedies for such
breaches. In addition, some courts inside and outside the United States are less willing or unwilling to protect trade secrets. If any of our trade secrets were
to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor or other third party, we would have no right to prevent them from using that technology
or information to compete with us. If any of our trade secrets were to be disclosed to or independently developed by a competitor or other third party, our
competitive position would be materially and adversely harmed.
We may not be successful in obtaining, through acquisitions or otherwise, necessary rights to our product candidates or other technologies.
Many pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and academic institutions that are competing with us in the field of neurodegeneration
therapy may have patents and have filed and are likely filing patent applications potentially relevant to our business. In order to avoid infringing these
third-party patents, we may find it necessary or prudent to obtain licenses to such patents from such third-party intellectual property holders. We may also
require licenses from third parties for certain technologies for use with future product candidates. In addition, with respect to any patents we co-own with
third parties, we may wish to obtain licenses to such co-owners’ interest to such patents. However, we may be unable to secure such licenses or otherwise
acquire any rights to compositions, methods of use, processes, or other intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify as necessary for our
future product candidates. The licensing or acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and more established companies may
pursue strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider attractive or necessary. These established companies may
have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, capital resources, and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities. In addition,
companies that perceive us to be a competitor may be unwilling to assign or license rights to us. We also may be unable to license or acquire third-party
intellectual property rights on terms that would allow us to make an appropriate return on our investment or at all. If we are unable to successfully obtain
rights to required third-party intellectual property rights or maintain the existing intellectual property rights we have, we may have to abandon development
of the relevant program or product candidate, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and
growth prospects.
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We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants, or advisors have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of their current or
former employers or claims asserting ownership of what we regard as our own intellectual property.
Many of our employees, consultants, and advisors are currently or were previously employed at universities or other biotechnology or
pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors and potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees, consultants, and advisors
do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these individuals have used or
disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of any such individual’s current or former employer. Litigation may
be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable
intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a
distraction to management.
In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual
property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who, in
fact, conceives or develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. The assignment of intellectual property rights may not be self-executing, or the
assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to
determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property. Such claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.
Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement, misappropriation, or other violation against us or our collaborators may prevent or delay the
development and commercialization of our product candidates and other technologies.
The field of discovering treatments for neurodegenerative diseases is highly competitive and dynamic. Due to the focused research and development
that is taking place by various companies, including us and our competitors, in this field, the intellectual property landscape is in flux, and it may remain
uncertain in the future. Additionally, the technology used in our product candidates is still in development and no products utilizing similar technology have
yet reached the market. As such, there may be significant intellectual property related litigation and proceedings relating to our, and other third party,
intellectual property and proprietary rights in the future.
Our commercial success depends in part on our and our collaborators’ ability to develop, manufacture, market, and sell any product candidates that
we develop and to use our proprietary technologies without infringing, misappropriating, and otherwise violating the patents and other intellectual property
rights of third parties. There is a substantial amount of complex litigation involving patents and other intellectual property rights in the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical industries, and we may become subject to, or threatened with, such actions in the future, regardless of their merit. In addition, we may
undertake costly administrative proceedings for challenging third party patents, including post-grant, derivation, and reexamination proceedings before the
USPTO or oppositions and other comparable proceedings in foreign jurisdictions.
Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications owned by third parties exist in the fields in which we are developing our
product candidates. As the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that our product candidates
and other technologies may give rise to claims of infringement of the patent rights of others. We cannot be assured that our product candidates and other
technologies that we have developed, are developing, or may develop in the future will not infringe existing or future patents owned by third parties. We
may not be aware of patents that have already been issued and that a third party, for example, a competitor in the fields in which we are developing product
candidates, and other technologies might assert are infringed by our current or future product candidates or other technologies, including claims to
compositions, formulations, methods of manufacture or methods of use or treatment that cover our product candidates or other technologies. It is also
possible that patents owned by third parties of which we are aware, but which we do not believe are relevant to our product candidates or other
technologies, could be found to be infringed by our product candidates or other technologies. In addition, because patent applications can take many years
to issue, there may be currently pending patent applications that may later result in issued patents that our product candidates or other technologies may
infringe.
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Third parties may have patents or obtain patents in the future and claim that the manufacture, use or sale of our product candidates or other
technologies infringes upon these patents. In the event that any third party claims that we infringe their patents or that we are otherwise employing their
proprietary technology without authorization and initiates litigation against us, even if we believe such claims are without merit, a court of competent
jurisdiction could hold that such patents are valid, enforceable, and infringed by our product candidates or other technologies. In this case, the holders of
such patents may be able to block our ability to manufacture or commercialize the applicable product candidate or technology unless we obtain a license
under the applicable patents, or until such patents expire or are finally determined to be held invalid or unenforceable. Such a license may not be available
on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we are able to obtain a license, the license would likely obligate us to pay license fees or royalties or
both, and the rights granted to us might be nonexclusive, which could result in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property. If we are
unable to obtain a necessary license to a third-party patent on commercially reasonable terms, we may be unable to commercialize our product candidates
or other technologies, or such commercialization efforts may be significantly delayed, which could in turn significantly harm our business.
Defense of infringement claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of
management and other employee resources from our business, and may impact our reputation. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us,
we may be enjoined from further developing or commercializing our infringing product candidates or other technologies. In addition, we may have to pay
substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties,
and/or redesign our infringing product candidates or technologies, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure. In that
event, we would be unable to further develop and commercialize our product candidates or other technologies, which could harm our business significantly.
Engaging in litigation to defend against third parties alleging that we have infringed, misappropriated, or otherwise violated their patents or other
intellectual property rights is very expensive, particularly for a company of our size, and time-consuming. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain
the costs of litigation or administrative proceedings more effectively than we can because of greater financial resources. Patent litigation and other
proceedings may also absorb significant management time. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other
proceedings against us could impair our ability to compete in the marketplace. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.
We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents and other intellectual property rights or to defend against allegations of patent
infringement, which could be expensive, time consuming, and unsuccessful.
Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our licensing partners, or we may be required to defend against claims of infringement. In
addition, our patents or the patents of our licensing partners also may become involved in inventorship, or validity disputes. To counter or defend against
such claims can be expensive and time consuming. In an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that a patent in which we have an interest is invalid
or unenforceable, the other party’s use of our patented technology falls under the safe harbor to patent infringement under 35 U.S.C. §271(e)(1), or may
refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question. An adverse result
in any litigation proceeding could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly. Furthermore, because of the
substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could
be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation.
Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses
and could distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions, or
other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse
effect on the price of our common stock. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available
for development activities or any future sales, marketing, or distribution activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to conduct such
litigation or proceedings adequately. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we
can because of their greater financial resources and more mature and developed intellectual
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property portfolios. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect
on our ability to compete in the marketplace.
If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected, then we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest and our
business may be adversely affected.
Our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented, or declared generic or determined to be
infringing on other marks. We may not be able to protect our rights to these trademarks and trade names, which we need to build name recognition among
potential partners or customers in our markets of interest. At times, competitors or other third parties may adopt trade names or trademarks similar to ours,
thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to market confusion. In addition, there could be potential trade name or trademark
infringement claims brought by owners of other registered trademarks or trademarks that incorporate variations of our registered or unregistered trademarks
or trade names. Over the long term, if we are unable to establish name recognition based on our trademarks and trade names, then we may not be able to
compete effectively and our business may be adversely affected. Our efforts to enforce or protect our proprietary rights related to trademarks, trade secrets,
domain names, copyrights or other intellectual property may be ineffective and could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and could
adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects.
Intellectual property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats.
The degree of future protection afforded by our intellectual property rights is uncertain because intellectual property rights have limitations and may
not adequately protect our business or permit us to maintain our competitive advantage. For example:
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others may be able to make products that are similar to our product candidates or utilize similar technology but that are not covered by the
claims of the patents that we license or may own;
our future licensors or collaborators, might not have been the first to invent the claimed inventions covered by the issued patents or pending
patent applications that we license in the future;
we, or our current or future licensors or collaborators, might not have been the first to file patent applications covering certain of our or
their inventions;
others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without infringing our owned or
licensed intellectual property rights;
it is possible that our current or future pending owned or licensed patent applications will not lead to issued patents;
issued patents that we hold rights to may be held invalid or unenforceable, including as a result of legal challenges by our competitors or
other third parties;
our competitors or other third parties might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights
and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets;
we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable;
the patents of others may harm our business; and
we may choose not to file a patent application in order to maintain certain trade secrets or know-how, and a third party may subsequently
file a patent application covering such intellectual property.
Should any of these events occur, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth
prospects.
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Risks Related to Our Operations
We are highly dependent on our key personnel, and if we are not successful in attracting, motivating, and retaining highly qualified personnel, we may
not be able to successfully implement our business strategy.
Our ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries depends upon our ability to attract, motivate, and
retain highly qualified managerial, scientific, and medical personnel. We are highly dependent on our leadership, including our Chief Executive Officer, Dr.
Arnon Rosenthal. The loss of the services provided by any of our executive officers, other key employees, and other scientific and medical advisors, and
our inability to either find suitable replacements in the event of such loss or to attract senior management personnel to fill open positions could result in
delays in the development of our product candidates and harm our business.
We conduct our operations at our facility in South San Francisco, California, a region that is headquarters to many other biotechnology companies as
well as many academic and research institutions, which may limit our ability to hire competitively and retain highly qualified personnel from or outside of
our region.
To induce valuable employees to remain at our company, in addition to salary and cash incentives, we have provided and will continue to provide
restricted stock units, stock option grants, and other equity awards that vest over time. The value to employees of these equity grants that vest over time
may be significantly affected by movements in our stock price that are beyond our control and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative
offers from other companies. Although we have employment agreements with our key employees, these employment agreements provide for at-will
employment, which means that any of our employees could leave our employment at any time, with or without notice. If we are unable to attract and
incentivize quality personnel on acceptable terms, or at all, it may cause our business and operating results to suffer.
We will need to effectively manage the size and capabilities of our organization.
As of December 31, 2023, we had 244 full-time employees. As our development plans and strategies develop, and as we progress development of
our product candidates and move towards commercialization, we will be required to add additional managerial, operational, financial, and other personnel.
We will need to effectively manage the size and capabilities of our organization and any future growth through significant responsibilities on members of
management, including:
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identifying, recruiting, integrating, retaining, and motivating additional employees;
managing our internal development efforts effectively, including the clinical and FDA review process for our current and future product
candidates, while complying with our contractual obligations to collaborators and other third parties;
expanding our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems, and procedures; and
managing increasing operational and managerial complexity.
Our future financial performance and our ability to continue to develop and, if approved, commercialize our product candidates will depend, in part,
on our ability to effectively manage any future growth. Our management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from day-
to-day activities in order to manage these growth activities.
Our near-term financial performance and development plans also require that we manage our personnel, and we recently committed to a plan to
reduce our workforce to better align our resources with our current strategic priorities. We initiated a reduction in force impacting approximately 30
employees across the organization effective March 2023. One-time restructuring charges associated with the reduction in force were approximately $1.7
million, primarily consisting of personnel expenses such as salaries, one-time severance payments, and other benefits. Most cash payments related to these
expenses were paid out during the first half of 2023. Any future reductions in or restructurings of our workforce, whether due to market downturns,
uncertainty in capital markets, other macroeconomic changes or any other reason, may generate severance and other costs that may cause our business and
operating results to suffer.
We currently rely, and for the foreseeable future will continue to rely, in substantial part on certain independent organizations, advisors, and
consultants to provide certain services. There can be no assurance that the
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services of these independent organizations, advisors, and consultants will continue to be available to us on a timely basis when needed, or that we can find
qualified replacements. In addition, if we are unable to effectively manage our outsourced activities or if the quality or accuracy of the services provided by
consultants is compromised for any reason, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed, or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory
approval of our product candidates or otherwise advance our business. There can be no assurance that we will be able to manage our existing consultants or
find other competent outside contractors and consultants on economically reasonable terms, if at all.
If we are not able to effectively manage or expand our organization by hiring new employees and expanding our groups of consultants and
contractors, we may not be able to successfully implement the tasks necessary to further develop our product candidates, our clinical trials may be
extended, delayed, or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates, and accordingly, may not achieve our
research, development, and commercialization goals.
We have engaged in strategic collaborations and may in the future engage in acquisitions, collaborations, or strategic partnerships, which may increase
our capital requirements, dilute our stockholders, cause us to incur debt or assume contingent liabilities, and subject us to other risks.
We have engaged in strategic collaborations in the past, such as our strategic collaborations with AbbVie and GSK, and we may engage in various
acquisitions, collaborations, and strategic partnerships in the future, including licensing or acquiring complementary products, intellectual property rights,
technologies, or businesses. Any acquisition, collaboration, or strategic partnership may entail numerous risks, including:
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increased operating expenses and cash requirements;
volatility with respect to the financial reporting related to such arrangements, such as our expected variability in the recognition of revenue
each quarter from the AbbVie and GSK Agreement based on the percentage-of-completion basis under the applicable accounting rules;
assumption of indebtedness or contingent liabilities;
potential goodwill impairment resulting from such acquisitions;
issuance of our equity securities which would result in dilution to our stockholders;
assimilation of operations, intellectual property, products, and product candidates of an acquired company by our partners, including
difficulties associated with integrating new personnel;
diversion of our management’s attention from our existing product programs and initiatives in pursuing such an acquisition, collaboration
or strategic partnership;
retention of key employees, the loss of key personnel, and uncertainties in our ability to maintain key business relationships;
risks and uncertainties associated with the other party to such a transaction, including the prospects of that party and their existing products
or product candidates and regulatory approvals, that may impact their ability to fulfill their obligations under such transaction;
risks that the other party to such a transaction may exercise its rights under the applicable agreement in a way that negatively impacts us;
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our inability to generate revenue from acquired or partnered intellectual property, technology, and/or products sufficient to meet our
objectives or even to offset the associated transaction and maintenance costs.
In addition, if we undertake such a transaction, we may issue dilutive securities, assume or incur debt obligations, incur large one-time expenses,
and acquire intangible assets that could result in significant future amortization expense.
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We have experienced cyber-attacks in the past, and our internal computer systems, or those used by third parties with which we engage, such as
research institution collaborators, clinical trial sites, and CROs or other vendors, contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer other breakdowns,
cyberattacks, or information security breaches or sensitive data loss that could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of such
systems and data, result in material disruptions of our development programs and business operations, risk disclosure of confidential, financial, or
proprietary information, and affect our reputation.
We have experienced cyberattacks in the past that have not had a material effect on our business operations, and we face the risk of future
cyberattacks that may or may not have a material effect. Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of third
parties with which we engage, such as research institution collaborators, clinical trial sites, and CROs and other vendors, contractors and consultants, may
be vulnerable to damage, interruption, or other disruption from various causes, including computer viruses and other malicious code, and may be
vulnerable to unauthorized access. Likewise, data privacy or security breaches or breaches by employees or others may pose a risk that sensitive data,
including our intellectual property, trade secrets, or personal information of our employees, patients, customers, or other business partners, may be exposed
to unauthorized persons or to the public or may otherwise be misused. As the cyber-threat landscape evolves, especially as certain of our employees have
engaged in remote or hybrid work, these attacks are growing in frequency, sophistication, and intensity, and are becoming increasingly difficult to detect,
mitigate, and defend against. Such threats are prevalent and continue to rise, are increasingly difficult to detect, and come from a variety of sources,
including traditional computer “hackers,” threat actors, “hacktivists,” organized criminal threat actors, personnel (such as through theft or misuse),
sophisticated nation states, and nation-state-supported actors. During times of war and other conflicts, we and our business counterparties, including third
parties upon which we rely, may be vulnerable to a heightened risk of these attacks. Such attacks might involve the use of sophisticated malware, including
ransomware or various types of service denial tactics. They can be initiated through harmful websites or by leveraging phishing strategies, social
engineering tactics, or credential stuffing. This might also include brute force attacks, along with other contemporary malicious methods which are always
changing.
If a breakdown, cyberattack, or other information security breach or incident occurs, it could cause damage to or interruptions or other disruptions in
our operations or those of third parties with which we engage, and could result in damage to, the loss or unavailability of, or misappropriation or other
unauthorized use or processing of, sensitive data, including personal information and confidential information, such as our intellectual property or financial
information, and a material disruption of our development programs and our business operations. For example, the loss or unavailability of, or damage to,
clinical trial data from completed, ongoing, or future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our
costs to recover or reproduce the data. Likewise, we rely on third-party research institution collaborators, clinical trial sites, and CROs and other vendors,
consultants and contractors for research and development of our product candidates, and we rely on other third parties, such as CDMOs and CROs, to
manufacture our product candidates and to conduct clinical trials, respectively. Supply-chain attacks against third-party actors like these have increased in
frequency and severity, and we cannot guarantee that third-party infrastructure in our supply chain or our third-party partners’ supply chains have not been
compromised. Cyberattacks, security breaches and incidents, and disruptions, interruptions, and similar events relating to their computer systems and
operations could also have a material adverse effect on our business.
We and our business counterparties, including third parties on which we rely, may be unable to anticipate or prevent techniques used to obtain
unauthorized access to or to compromise our or our business counterparties’ systems because such techniques change frequently and are generally not
detected until after an incident has occurred. There can be no assurance that we and our business counterparties will be successful in efforts to detect,
prevent, or fully recover systems or data from all breakdowns, service interruptions or other disruptions, attacks, or compromises of, or security breaches or
incidents impacting, systems that could adversely affect our business and operations and/or result in the loss or unavailability of, or damage to, critical or
sensitive data.
Any disruption or security breach or incident resulting in loss or unavailability of, or damage to, our data or systems, or those of third parties on
which we rely, or inappropriate use, disclosure, or modification of personal, sensitive, confidential or proprietary information, could result in our being
subject to claims, demands, and litigation, investigations and other regulatory proceedings, and fines and other liabilities, as well as in delays to further
development and commercialization of our product candidates. While we have invested, and continue to invest, in the protection of our data and
information technology infrastructure, there can be no assurance that our efforts will prevent service disruptions, or prevent or identify vulnerabilities or
security breaches or incidents, that
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could adversely affect our business and operations or result in the loss, unavailability, or corruption of, or inappropriate access to or use of, confidential,
personal, or other sensitive information or company resources. Any such interruptions, breaches or incidents, or the perception that any have occurred,
could result in financial, legal, business, or reputational harm to us. In addition, our liability insurance may not be sufficient in type or amount to cover us
against claims related to security breaches, cyberattacks and other privacy and security breaches or incidents.
Our contracts may not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts
are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our data privacy and security obligations. We cannot be sure that our insurance
coverage will be adequate or sufficient to protect us from or to mitigate liabilities arising out of our privacy and security practices, that such coverage will
continue to be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or that such coverage will pay future claims.
Business disruptions, including as a result of global pandemics, could seriously harm our future revenue and financial condition and increase our
costs and expenses.
Our operations, and those of our collaborators, CROs, CDMOs, suppliers, and other contractors and consultants, could be subject to pandemic
events and other events beyond our control, such as the spread of disease, earthquakes, power shortages, telecommunications failures, water shortages,
floods, hurricanes, typhoons, fires, extreme weather conditions, medical epidemics, political unrest, including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and
Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, and other natural or man-made disasters or business interruptions, for which we are either totally or partly
uninsured. In addition, we rely on our third-party research institution collaborators for conducting research and development of our product candidates, and
they may be affected by government shutdowns or withdrawn funding. We rely on third-party manufacturers to produce and process our product
candidates. Our ability to obtain clinical supplies of our product candidates could be disrupted if the operations of these suppliers are affected by a man-
made or natural disaster, global pandemics, or other business interruption. The occurrence of any of these business disruptions could seriously harm our
operations and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses.
The majority of our operations including our corporate headquarters are located in a facility in South San Francisco, California. Damage or extended
periods of interruption to our corporate, development, or research facilities due to fire, natural disaster, global pandemics, power loss, communications
failure, unauthorized entry, earthquakes or other events could cause us to cease or delay development of some or all of our product candidates. Although we
maintain property damage and business interruption insurance coverage on these facilities, our insurance might not cover all losses under such
circumstances, and our business may be seriously harmed by such delays and interruption.
Our business is subject to economic, political, regulatory, and other risks associated with international operations.
Our business is subject to risks associated with conducting business internationally. Some of our CDMOs and clinical trial sites, for example, are
located outside the United States. Accordingly, our future results could be harmed by a variety of factors, including:
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economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular in non-U.S. economies and markets;
differing and changing regulatory requirements in non-U.S. countries;
challenges enforcing our contractual and intellectual property rights, especially in those foreign countries that do not respect and protect
intellectual property rights to the same extent as the United States;
difficulties in compliance with non-U.S. laws and regulations;
changes in non-U.S. regulations and customs, tariffs, and trade barriers;
changes in non-U.S. currency exchange rates and currency controls;
changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic environment;
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shipping of biologics/drugs;
trade protection measures, import or export licensing requirements, or other restrictive actions by U.S. or non-U.S. governments;
negative consequences from changes in tax laws; (including the provisions of the recently enacted federal tax legislation titled the Inflation
Reduction Act);
compliance with tax, employment, immigration, and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad;
workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States;
difficulties associated with staffing and managing international operations, including differing labor relations;
potential liability under the FCPA, UK Bribery Act, or comparable foreign laws; and
business interruptions resulting from geo-political actions, including war and terrorism, or natural disasters including earthquakes,
typhoons, floods, droughts, extreme temperatures, and fires.
These and other risks associated with our planned international operations may materially adversely affect our ability to attain profitable operations.
Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
As of December 31, 2023, we had federal and state net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards of approximately zero and $202.2 million, respectively.
Federal NOL carryforwards have an indefinite life but cannot offset more than 80% of taxable income. Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Sections 382
and 383, annual use of the Company’s net operating loss and research and development credit carryforwards may be limited in the event that a cumulative
change in ownership of more than 50% occurs within a three-year period. As a result of our initial public offering in February 2019 and follow-on public
offering in January 2020, and other transactions that have occurred since our incorporation, we may have experienced such an ownership change. We may
also experience ownership changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in our stock ownership, some of which are outside our control. As a result,
our ability to use our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset post-change taxable income or taxes may be
subject to limitation. Additionally, our NOLs may also be subject to limitations under state law.
Changes in tax laws or in their implementation or interpretation may adversely affect our business and financial condition.
We are or may become subject to income and non-income taxes in the United States under federal, state, and local jurisdictions and in certain
foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. Tax laws, regulations and administrative practices in these jurisdictions may be subject to significant change,
with or without advance notice. For example, on January 1, 2022, a provision of the TCJA went into effect that eliminates the option to deduct domestic
research and development costs in the year incurred and instead requires taxpayers to amortize such costs over five years for domestic costs and 15 years
for foreign costs. As a result, the Company recognizes taxable income earlier than anticipated. Also, the United States recently enacted the Inflation
Reduction Act of 2022 (the IRA), which introduced a 15% minimum tax on book income and a 1% excise tax on certain stock buybacks. Changes in tax
laws (including provisions of the IRA), regulations, or rulings, changes in interpretations of existing laws and regulations, or changes in accounting
principles could negatively or materially affect our financial position, cash flows and results of operations.
General Risk Factors
The market price of our common stock may continue to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses for investors.
Although our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the market for our shares has demonstrated varying levels of trading
activity. The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to
various factors, some of which are
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beyond our control. We cannot predict the prices at which our common stock will trade. It is possible that in one or more future periods our results of
operations and progression of our product pipeline may not meet the expectations of public market analysts and investors, and, as a result of these and other
factors, the price of our common stock may fall. Some of the factors that may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate or decline include:
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the success of existing or new competitive products or technologies;
the timing and results of clinical trials for our current product candidates and any future product candidates that we may develop;
commencement or termination of collaborations for our product development and research programs;
failure to achieve development, regulatory, or commercialization milestones under our collaborations;
failure or discontinuation of any of our product development and research programs;
results of preclinical studies, clinical trials, or regulatory approvals of product candidates of our competitors, or announcements about new
research programs or product candidates of our competitors;
regulatory or legal developments in the United States and other countries;
developments or disputes concerning patent applications, issued patents, or other proprietary rights;
the recruitment or departure of key personnel;
the level of expenses related to any of our research programs, clinical development programs, or product candidates that we may develop;
the results of our efforts to develop additional product candidates or products;
actual or anticipated changes in estimates as to financial results, development timelines, or recommendations by securities analysts;
announcement or expectation of additional financing efforts;
sales of our common stock by us, our insiders, or other stockholders, such as if we use our at-the-market facility;
expiration of market standoff or lock-up agreements;
variations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us;
changes in estimates or recommendations by securities analysts, if any, that cover our stock;
changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems;
market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors;
general economic, political, industry, and market conditions, including a rising rate of inflation or a period of economic recession; and
the other factors described in this “Risk Factors” section.
In recent years, the stock market in general, and the market for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in particular, has experienced
significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to changes in the operating performance of the companies
whose stock is experiencing those price and volume fluctuations. Broad market and industry factors, such as inflationary concerns, may seriously affect the
market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. Following periods of such volatility in the market price of a company’s
securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Because of the potential volatility of our stock price, we may
become the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources
from our business.
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If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they publish negative evaluations of our stock, the price of our stock
could decline.
The trading market for our common stock relies in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our
business. If one or more of the analysts covering our business cease to cover us or downgrade their evaluations of our stock or if we fail to meet their
operating results estimates for us, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover our stock, we could lose visibility in
the market for our stock, which in turn could cause our stock price to decline.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales might occur, could cause the market price of
our common stock to decline significantly, even if our business is doing well.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. If our stockholders sell, or the market
perceives that our stockholders intend to sell, substantial amount of our common stock in the public market, the market price of our common stock could
decline significantly.
Certain holders of shares of our common stock have rights may, in the future, subject to conditions, to require us to file registration statements
covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders. Registration of these shares
under the Securities Act would result in the shares becoming freely tradeable in the public market, subject to the restrictions of Rule 144 in the case of our
affiliates. Any sales of securities by these stockholders could have a material adverse effect on the market price for our common stock.
Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing stockholders, restrict our operations, or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies
or product candidates.
We may seek additional capital through a combination of public and private equity offerings, debt financings, strategic partnerships and alliances,
and licensing arrangements. We, and indirectly, our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because our decision to issue
debt or equity securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the
amount, timing, or nature of any future offerings. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or debt securities, your ownership
interest will be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a stockholder. The incurrence of
indebtedness would result in increased fixed payment obligations and could involve restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur
additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell, or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact
our ability to conduct our business. We have an omnibus shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, which became effective on May 1, 2023,
which permits us to issue up to $400 million in common stock, other equity securities and/or debt securities. On November 7, 2023, we entered into an at-
the-market sales agreement with Cowen and Company, LLC (TD Cowen) pursuant to which we may offer and sell from time to time through TD Cowen up
to $125,000,000 of shares of our common stock, in such share amounts as we may specify by notice to TD Cowen. On January 17, 2024, we entered into
an underwriting agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (Cantor), pursuant to which we offered and sold 10,869,566 shares of the Company’s common
stock at a price per share of $6.57 paid by Cantor. Additionally, any future collaborations we enter into with third parties may provide capital in the near
term but limit our potential cash flow and revenue in the future. If we raise additional funds through strategic partnerships and alliances and licensing
arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies or product candidates, or grant licenses on terms unfavorable
to us.
Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exercise significant influence over matters
subject to stockholder approval.
Our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of our outstanding stock and their respective affiliates beneficially own 40.9 percentage
of our outstanding common stock as of February 22, 2024. As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, may significantly influence all matters
requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may
have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company that our other
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stockholders may believe is in their best interests. This in turn could have a material adverse effect on our stock price and may prevent attempts by our
stockholders to replace or remove the board of directors or management.
We have incurred and will continue to incur significant additional costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be
required to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.
As a public company, we have incurred and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private
company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform, and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of NASDAQ, and other
applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective
disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. We have hired, and expect that we will need to continue to hire, additional
accounting, finance, and other personnel in connection with our being, and our efforts to comply with the requirements of being, a public company, and our
management and other personnel have devoted and will continue to devote a substantial amount of time towards maintaining compliance with these
requirements. These requirements have increased and will continue to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more
time-consuming and costly. For example, we expect that the rules and regulations applicable to us as a public company may make it more difficult and
more expensive for us to maintain director and officer liability insurance, which could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members
of our board of directors. We are currently evaluating these rules and regulations and cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may
incur or the timing of such costs. These rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and,
as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in
continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
If we are unable to maintain effective internal controls, our business, financial position, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
As a public company, we are subject to reporting and other obligations under the Exchange Act, including the requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Section 404(a), which require annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Section 404(b) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act also requires our independent auditors to attest to, and report on, this management assessment.
The rules governing the standards that must be met for management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex and require
significant documentation, testing, and possible remediation to meet the detailed standards under the rules. During the course of its testing, our
management may identify material weaknesses or deficiencies which may not be remedied in time to meet the deadline imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002. These reporting and other obligations place significant demands on our management and administrative and operational resources, including
accounting resources. If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm are
unable to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our
financial reports, the market price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by NASDAQ, the SEC, or other
regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
Our operations are subject to the effects of a rising rate of inflation.
The United States has recently experienced historically high levels of inflation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual
consumer price index increase for the United States was approximately 3.4% for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023. If the inflation rate continues to
increase, it will affect our expenses, such as employee compensation and research and development charges. Research and development expenses account
for a significant portion of our operating expenses. Such increased charges may not be readily recoverable during the period of time that we are bringing
the product candidates to market. Additionally, the United States is experiencing an acute workforce shortage, which in turn, has created a very competitive
wage environment that may increase the
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Company’s operating costs. To the extent inflation results in rising interest rates and has other adverse effects on the market, it may adversely affect our
consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
Market conditions and changing circumstances, some of which may be beyond our control, could impair our ability to access our existing cash, cash
equivalents and investments and to timely pay key vendors and others.
Market conditions and changing circumstances, some of which may be beyond our control, could impair our ability to access our existing cash, cash
equivalents and investments and to timely pay key vendors and others. For example, on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), where we maintained
certain immaterial deposit accounts at the time, was placed into receivership with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which resulted in all
funds held at SVB being temporarily inaccessible by SVB’s customers. If other banks and financial institutions with whom we have banking relationships
enter receivership or become insolvent in the future, we may be unable to access, and we may lose, some or all of our existing cash, cash equivalents and
investments to the extent those funds are not insured or otherwise protected by the FDIC. In addition, in such circumstances we might not be able to timely
pay key vendors and others. We regularly maintain cash balances that are not insured or are in excess of the FDIC’s insurance limit. Any delay in our
ability to access our cash, cash equivalents and investments (or the loss of some or all of such funds) or to timely pay key vendors and others could have a
material adverse effect on our operations and cause us to need to seek additional capital sooner than planned.
We do not expect to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future. Investors may never obtain a return on their investment.
You should not rely on an investment in our common stock to provide dividend income. We do not anticipate that we will pay any dividends to
holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Instead, we plan to retain any earnings to maintain and expand our existing operations. In addition,
any future credit facility may contain terms prohibiting or limiting the amount of dividends that may be declared or paid on our common stock.
Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any return on
their investment. As a result, investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.
Delaware law and provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws might discourage, delay, or prevent a change in
control of our company or changes in our management and, therefore, depress the trading price of our common stock.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage, delay, or prevent a merger, acquisition, or other
change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares of our
common stock. These provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. Therefore, these
provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock. Among other things, our charter documents:
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establish that our board of directors is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II, and Class III, with each class serving staggered three-year
terms;
provide that vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a
quorum;
provide that our directors may only be removed for cause;
eliminate cumulative voting in the election of directors;
authorize our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and determine the price and other terms of those shares, including
preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval;
provide our board of directors with the exclusive right to elect a director to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship;
permit stockholders to only take actions at a duly called annual or special meeting and not by written consent;
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prohibit stockholders from calling a special meeting of stockholders;
require that stockholders give advance notice to nominate directors or submit proposals for consideration at stockholder meetings;
authorize our board of directors, by a majority vote, to amend the bylaws; and
require the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock to amend many of the provisions
described above.
In addition, Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (DGCL), prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from
engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder, generally a person which together with its affiliates owns, or within the last three years
has owned, 15% of our voting stock, for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder,
unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
Any provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws, or Delaware law that has the effect of
delaying or preventing a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our capital stock and
could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes
between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors,
officers, or employees.
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have
jurisdiction, another State court in Delaware or the federal district court for the District of Delaware) is the exclusive forum for the following (except for
any claim as to which such court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and the indispensable party
does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of such court within 10 days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a
court or forum other than such court or for which such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction):
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any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;
any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty;
any action asserting a claim against us arising under the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and
restated bylaws; and
any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal-affairs doctrine.
This provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the U.S.
federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Our amended and restated bylaws further provide that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any
complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. These exclusive-forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim
in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and
our directors, officers, and other employees. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our securities shall be deemed to
have notice of and consented to these provisions. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions, and the enforceability of similar
choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings. It is possible that a court could find these
types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable, and if a court were to find either exclusive-forum provision in our amended and restated bylaws to
be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could
seriously harm our business.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
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Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
Risk Management and Strategy
We have established policies and processes for assessing, identifying, and managing material risk from cybersecurity threats, using widely
recognized industry frameworks. We use risk management strategies that focus on vital areas such as data protection, access control, incident response, and
vulnerability management, and we have integrated these processes into our overall risk management program. We routinely assess risks from cybersecurity
threats, including any potential unauthorized occurrence on or conducted through our information systems that may result in adverse effects on the
confidentiality, integrity, or availability of our information systems or any information residing therein.
We have implemented a multi-faceted cybersecurity program in accordance with globally recognized standards to protect the confidentiality,
integrity, and availability of our information assets. The primary aims of this program are to devise, initiate, and maintain a cybersecurity approach that
safeguards our systems, services, and data from unauthorized access, outages, exposure, modification, damage, and loss.
We have implemented a range of logical and technical controls to appropriately restrict physical and logical access. We maintain authentication
controls in line with industry-recognized standards, including audit trails and logs for access. Access privileges are updated following any change in
personnel or system, and are reviewed periodically, with the frequency determined by the associated risk of the application or system.
We engage the expertise of third-party organizations to assist us to design and implement our cybersecurity procedures, as well as to monitor and
test our safeguards in the context of recognized industry standards and practices. This process aims to confirm that our security infrastructure is robust and
efficient, and that it is designed to resist diverse security threats. We use the critical insights gained from these third-party assessments to continue to
improve our security controls and protect our systems and data.
We evaluate potential cybersecurity risks associated with third-party service providers, including through a periodic vendor security review process
overseen by our Head of Cybersecurity.
We have not encountered any cybersecurity threats or incidents to date that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially
affect, our business, strategy, results of operations or financial condition. For additional information regarding cybersecurity risks and their potential
impacts on our company, including our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition, please refer to Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in this annual
report on Form 10-K.
Governance
Our Vice President, Technology and Digital Health, serves as our Head of Cybersecurity and is responsible for developing and executing our
cybersecurity strategy and program. We also maintain a team of cybersecurity professionals who are responsible for security operations and report to the
Head of Cybersecurity, who has more than 20 years’ experience in cybersecurity and information technology infrastructure and operations.
Our Head of Cybersecurity is regularly informed about developments in cybersecurity, including potential threats and innovative risk management
techniques in the interest of effective prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity incidents. The Head of Cybersecurity oversees the
processes for monitoring our information systems, including periodic system audits to identify potential vulnerabilities and third-party audits and
evaluations. In the event of a cybersecurity incident, the Head of Cybersecurity implements an incident response plan. This plan includes immediate actions
to mitigate the impact of incidents and strategies for remediation of future incidents. The Head of Cybersecurity is responsible for reporting information
about cybersecurity risks and incidents to our Chief Financial Officer and other members of executive management.
Our board of directors oversees our enterprise risk management, including our management of cybersecurity risks. The audit committee of our board
of directors has primary responsibility for the oversight of risks from cybersecurity threats. The Head of Cybersecurity, or a delegate, provides quarterly
reports to the audit committee on the effectiveness and overall status of our cybersecurity program, and is responsible for reporting to the audit committee
information about our company’s cybersecurity risks and activities, including any recent cybersecurity incidents and related responses.
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Item 2. Properties.
Our corporate headquarters are currently located in South San Francisco, California, where we lease approximately 105,000 square feet of office and
laboratory space. The term of the lease agreement expires in May 2029, with an option to extend the term of the lease for an additional 10 years. The lease
agreement also provides us a right of first offer to expand into available office space in the building. We subleased approximately 7,100 square feet of our
corporate headquarters in November 2021 with a lease term that expired in December 2022. Additionally, we subleased approximately 13,150 square feet
of our corporate headquarters in May 2022 with a lease term that expired in November 2023. We also subleased approximately 13,250 square feet of the
Headquarters in November 2023 with a lease term that will expire in November 2024. We also subleased approximately 9,300 square feet of our corporate
headquarters in February 2023 with a lease term that will expire in February 2025. We lease approximately 18,700 square feet of additional office and
laboratory space in Newark, California. We believe that these facilities will be adequate for our near-term needs. If required, we believe that suitable
additional or alternative space would be available in the future on commercially reasonable terms.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we may become involved in litigation or other legal proceedings. We are not currently a party to any litigation or legal
proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of outcome, litigation, or other
legal proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of legal fees and settlement costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information for Common Stock
Our common stock is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol ”ALEC.”
PART II
Holders of Record
As of February 22, 2024, there were approximately 6 stockholders of record of our common stock. The actual number of stockholders is greater than
this number of record holders and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners but whose shares are held in street name by brokers and other nominees.
Dividend Policy
We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock since our inception. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the
operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of future cash dividends, if any,
will be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors, including our financial condition, operating results, current and
anticipated cash needs, the requirements and contractual restrictions of then-existing debt instruments, and other factors that our board of directors deems
relevant.
Stock Performance Graph
This graph is not “soliciting material” or deemed “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to
liabilities under that Section, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing of Alector, Inc. under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the Securities Act), whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
The following graph compares the cumulative total return to stockholder return on our common stock relative to the cumulative total returns of the
NASDAQ Composite Index and the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. An investment of $100 is assumed to have been made in our common stock and each
index on February 7, 2019 (the first day of trading of our common stock) and its relative performance is tracked through December 31, 2023. Pursuant to
applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, all values assume reinvestment of the full amount of all dividends, however no dividends have been
declared on our common stock to date. The stockholder returns shown on the graph below are based on historical results and are not necessarily indicative
of future performance, and we do not make or endorse any predictions as to future stockholder returns.
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Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.
Item 6. [Reserved].
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial
statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including those described in the section titled “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements.” Our actual results and the
timing of selected events could differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not
limited to, those identified below and those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this report.
Overview
We are a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegeneration.
Immuno-neurology targets immune dysfunction as a root cause of multiple pathologies that are drivers of degenerative brain disorders. We are developing
therapies designed to counteract these pathologies simultaneously by restoring healthy immune function to the brain. Supporting our scientific approach,
our research and drug discovery platform enables us to identify targets and advance a broad portfolio of product candidates, validated by human genetics,
which we believe may improve the probability of technical success over shorter development timelines. Three product candidates, latozinemab (also
referred to as AL001), AL002, and AL101 are in clinical development. We continue to develop our preclinical and research pipeline, and we are developing
our proprietary blood brain barrier technology to potentially apply to next generation product candidates. We are focusing our development resources on
latozinemab in FTD and AL002 and AL101 in Alzheimer’s disease. We are advancing our clinical product candidates and research pipeline with our
existing resources and in collaboration with our partners, GSK and AbbVie.
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Our operations have been financed primarily through our collaborations with AbbVie and GSK and the issuance and sale of convertible preferred
stock and of common stock upon the completion of our initial public offering (IPO) and follow-on offerings.
To date, we have not had any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales. Further, we do not expect to
generate revenue from product sales until such time, if ever, that we are able to successfully complete the development and obtain marketing approval for
one of our product candidates. We will continue to require additional capital to develop our product candidates and fund operations for the foreseeable
future. We have incurred net losses in each year since inception and we expect to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. Our ability to
generate product revenue will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialization of one or more of our product candidates. Our net
losses were $130.4 million, $133.3 million, and $36.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. As of December 31,
2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $710.1 million. Substantially all of our net losses have resulted from costs incurred in connection with our research
and development programs and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations. We expect our expenses will increase substantially in
connection with our ongoing activities, as we:
•
•
•
•
•
•
advance product candidates through preclinical studies and clinical trials;
pursue regulatory approval of product candidates;
hire additional personnel;
acquire, discover, validate, and develop additional product candidates;
require the manufacture of supplies for our preclinical studies and clinical trials; and
obtain, maintain, expand, and protect our intellectual property portfolio.
On March 28, 2023, we committed to a plan to reduce our workforce by approximately 11% to better align our resources with our previously
announced strategic prioritization of our late-stage progranulin and TREM2 immuno-neurology programs. We initiated such reduction in force impacting
approximately 30 employees across the organization, effective March 29, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable
securities of $548.9 million. In January 2024, we announced the closing of an underwritten public offering and the net proceeds from the offering were
approximately $71.1 million. Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2023 plus the net proceeds from the offering total
$620.0 million, which we anticipate provides runway through 2026.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We have not generated any revenue from product sales and do not expect to do so in the near future. Our revenue to date has been primarily related
to the AbbVie Agreement and GSK Agreement for the license and co-development of product candidates with those parties. We recognize revenue from the
upfront payments and the milestone payment received from AbbVie over time as services are provided. We recognize revenue from the upfront payments
from GSK at a point in time for a development license and over time for research and development services. Revenues for research and development
services are recognized as the program costs are incurred by measuring actual costs incurred to date compared to the overall total expected costs to satisfy
the performance obligation.
Under the terms of the AbbVie Agreement, in addition to receiving the upfront payments from AbbVie, we may also be entitled to development and
regulatory milestone payments, an opt-in payment for continued development of AL002, and other future payments from profit sharing or royalties after
commercialization of product candidates from such program. Under the terms of the AbbVie Amendment signed in February 2023, the Company received
a $17.8 million milestone payment in March 2023 for the dosing of the first patient in the LTE trial and $12.5 million payment in the second half of 2023
for the enrollment of additional patients.
Under the terms of the GSK Agreement, we received $700 million in upfront payments, of which $500 million was received in August 2021 and
$200 million was received in January 2022. In addition, we will be eligible to receive up to an additional $1.5 billion in clinical development, regulatory,
and commercial launch-related
101
milestone payments for latozinemab and AL101. Alector and GSK are jointly developing latozinemab and AL101. In May 2023, we and GSK amended the
GSK Agreement. Under the terms of the GSK Amendment, we are responsible for funding and sharing in GSK’s and our development costs up to $140.5
million for the conduct of the initial Phase 2 clinical trial of AL101 in AD.
In the United States, Alector and GSK will equally share profits and losses from commercialization of latozinemab and AL101. We may opt out of
the sharing of development costs and of profit and losses from commercialization in the United States on a product-by-product basis. In such case, we will
no longer conduct development or commercialization of that product and we will receive royalties on net sales of the product in the United States instead of
a share of profits. Outside of the United States, GSK will be responsible for commercialization of latozinemab and AL101 for all indications, and we will
be eligible for double-digit tiered royalties.
We expect that our revenue for the next several years will be derived primarily from the AbbVie and GSK Agreements. The balance of deferred
revenue was $293.8 million as of December 31, 2023, related to the AbbVie and GSK Agreements. The deferred revenue is expected to be recognized over
the research and development period of the programs through proof-of-concept for AL002 and the completion of the initial Phase 2 clinical trials for
specified indications for latozinemab and AL101.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses account for a significant portion of our operating expenses. We record research and development expenses as
incurred. Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for the discovery and development of our product candidates, which
include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
expenses incurred under agreements with third-party contract organizations, preclinical testing organizations, and consultants;
costs related to production of clinical materials, including fees paid to contract manufacturers;
laboratory and vendor expenses related to the execution of preclinical studies and clinical trials;
personnel-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation for personnel engaged in research and development
functions;
costs related to the preparation of regulatory submissions;
third-party license fees; and
facilities and other expenses, which include expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, depreciation and amortization expense, and other
supplies.
We expense all research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred. Costs for certain development activities are recognized
based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information and data provided to us by our vendors, collaborators, and third-
party service providers. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in future periods for use in research and development
activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are then expensed as the related goods are delivered and as services are performed.
Specific program expenses include expenses associated with the development of our most advanced product candidates: latozinemab, which is being
studied in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial, INFRONT-3, and which has an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial; AL002, which is being studied in a Phase 2 clinical
trial; and AL101, which has an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial. We also have expenses related to the discovery and development of future product candidates
and separately tracked expenses related to programs that we expect to move out of preclinical studies and into Phase 1 clinical trials. These expenses
primarily relate to salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation, facility expenses, including depreciation, and lab consumables.
Where we share costs with our collaboration partners, such as in our GSK Agreement, research and development expenses may include cost sharing
reimbursements from, or payments to, our partner.
At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing, and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the
development of, and obtain regulatory approval for, any of our product candidates.
102
We expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in research and development
activities related to developing our product candidates, as our product candidates advance into later stages of development, as we begin to conduct larger
clinical trials, as we seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, and incur expenses associated with
hiring additional personnel to support our research and development efforts. The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory
approval is costly and time-consuming, and the successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, including stock-based compensation, for our personnel in
executive, legal, finance and accounting, information technology, human resources, and other administrative functions. General and administrative
expenses also include legal fees relating to intellectual property and corporate matters, professional fees paid for accounting, auditing, consulting, and tax
services, insurance costs, and facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net consists primarily of interest earned on our cash equivalents and marketable securities.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense consists of federal and state income tax provisions.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth selected consolidated statements of operations data for the fiscal years indicated and the percentage change in such
data from year to year. These historical operating results may not be indicative of the results for any future period. A discussion of our results of operations
for the comparison of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 can be found on page 102 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2023.
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Collaboration revenue
Operating expenses:
Research and development
General and administrative
Total operating expenses
Loss from operations
Other income, net
Loss before income taxes
Income tax expense
Net loss
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
(In thousands)
Dollar
Change
$
97,062 $
133,617 $
(36,555 )
192,115
56,687
248,802
(151,740 )
26,561
(125,179 )
5,212
(130,391 ) $
210,418
61,033
271,451
(137,834 )
7,778
(130,056 )
3,254
(133,310 ) $
(18,303 )
(4,346 )
(22,649 )
(13,906 )
18,783
4,877
1,958
2,919
$
Revenue
Collaboration revenue was $97.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $133.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The decrease of $36.6 million was mainly due to $68.9 million of collaboration revenue recognized in the second quarter of 2022 due to changes in
estimated costs to satisfy the performance obligations resulting from the termination of the AL003 program and a $27.0 million decrease in revenue
recognized for the latozinemab programs. This was offset by a $30.6 million increase in revenue recognized for the AL101 programs, including a
cumulative non-cash revenue adjustment due to contract modification to have
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GSK operationalize the AL101 Phase 2 study and a $29.0 million increase to collaboration revenue for the AL002 program due to the addition of AL002
LTE and patient replacement revenue in 2023. Revenues are recognized as the program costs are incurred by measuring actual costs incurred to date
compared to the overall total expected costs to satisfy the performance obligation.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses were $192.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $210.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2022. The decrease of $18.3 million was mainly due to the Company’s strategy to prioritize late-stage programs, higher cost share amounts
with GSK for the latozinemab programs that are recorded as contra expense, less manufacturing expense due to the timing of production, and the
Company's funding to GSK on the AL101 AD program being recorded as a reduction of our refund liability to collaboration partner.
Direct research and development expenses
Latozinemab
AL101
AL002
Other programs
Indirect research and development expenses
Personnel related (including stock-based
compensation)
Facilities and other unallocated research and
development expenses
Total research and development expenses
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
(In thousands)
Dollar
Change
$
14,511 $
4,403
51,490
21,096
22,118 $
7,751
34,805
44,931
(7,607 )
(3,348 )
16,685
(23,835 )
76,956
76,063
893
23,659
192,115 $
24,750
210,418 $
(1,091 )
(18,303 )
$
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses were $56.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $61.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2022. The decrease of $4.3 million was mainly driven by a decrease in consulting expenses related to accounting, recruiting, IT, and other
general expenses, plus a decrease in insurance costs.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net was $26.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The
increase of $18.8 million was due to higher investment yields on our marketable securities compared to the prior year.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since our inception through December 31, 2023, our operations have been financed primarily by our collaborations with AbbVie and GSK and the
issuance and sale of convertible preferred stock and of common stock upon the completion of our IPO and follow-on offering.
As of December 31, 2023, we had $548.9 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. As of December 31, 2023, we had an
accumulated deficit of $710.1 million.
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Future Funding Requirements
Our primary uses of cash are to fund our operations, which consist primarily of research and development expenditures related to our programs, and
to a lesser extent, general and administrative expenditures. We expect our expenses to continue to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, in
particular as we continue to advance our product candidates and our discovery programs. In addition, we expect to incur additional costs associated with
operating as a public company.
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $548.9 million. In January 2024, we announced the closing of
an underwritten public offering and the net proceeds from the offering were approximately $71.1 million. Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities as of December 31, 2023 plus the net proceeds from the offering total $620.0 million, which we anticipate provides runway through 2026. We
reduced our workforce to better align our resources with our current strategic priorities and maintain our expectations with respect to our ability to fund our
operations. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we
currently expect. We may also choose to seek additional financing opportunistically. We may seek to raise capital through public equity or debt financings,
license agreements, collaborative agreements or other arrangements with other companies, asset sales, or through other sources of financing. We have an
omnibus shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, which became effective on May 1, 2023, which permits us to issue up to $400 million in
common stock, other equity securities and/or debt securities. On November 7, 2023, we entered into an at-the-market sales agreement with TD Cowen
pursuant to which we may offer and sell from time to time through TD Cowen up to $125,000,000 of shares of our common stock, in such share amounts
as we may specify by notice to TD Cowen. On January 17, 2024, we entered into an underwriting agreement with Cantor, pursuant to which we offered and
sold 10,869,566 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $6.57 paid by Cantor. The Company also granted Cantor an option
exercisable for 30 days from the date of the underwriting agreement to purchase up to an additional 1,630,434 shares of common stock.
We expect to obtain substantial additional funding in the future for our research and development activities and continuing operations. If we were
unable to raise capital when needed or on favorable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate our research and development programs or
future commercialization efforts.
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
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•
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•
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•
•
•
•
•
•
the timing and progress of preclinical and clinical development activities; including, without limitation, our collaboration efforts with AbbVie
and GSK;
the number and scope of preclinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue;
successful enrollment in and completion of clinical trials;
our ability to establish agreements with third-party manufacturers for clinical supply for our clinical trials and, if our product candidates are
approved, commercial manufacturing;
our ability to maintain our current research and development programs and establish new research and development programs;
addition and retention of key research and development personnel;
our efforts to enhance operational, financial, and information management systems, and hire additional personnel, including personnel to
support development of our product candidates;
the costs associated with workforce reductions;
negotiating favorable terms in any collaboration, licensing, or other arrangements into which we may enter and performing our obligations in
such collaborations;
the timing and amount of milestone and other payments we may receive under our collaboration arrangements;
the costs and timing of regulatory approvals;
our eventual commercialization plans for our product candidates;
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•
•
the effects of inflationary pressures; and
the costs involved in prosecuting, defending, and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property claims.
A change in the outcome of any of these or other variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates could significantly
change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. Furthermore, our operating plans may change in the future, and we
may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements associated with such operating plans.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Cash provided by financing activities
Operating Activities
$
2023
(184,162 ) $
101,918
2,550
Year Ended
December 31,
2022
(20,329 ) $
(159,014 )
4,514
2021
298,551
(49,663 )
30,295
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash used in operating activities was $184.2 million. This was mainly due to the net loss of $130.4 million.
We also had a decrease in deferred revenue of $66.8 million and a decrease in refund liability of $24.5 million. This was offset by a non-cash charge of
$42.8 million for stock-based compensation.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash used in operating activities was $20.3 million. This was due to the net loss of $133.3 million offset by
an increase in deferred revenue of $66.4 million from the $200 million upfront payment received less revenue recognized. In addition, we had non-cash
charges of $46.1 million for stock-based compensation.
For the year ended December 31, 2021,cash provided by operating activities was $298.6 million. This was due to the net loss of $36.3 million offset
by an increase in deferred revenue of $292.9 million from the $500 million upfront payment received in the third quarter of 2021 from GSK. In addition,
we had non-cash charges of $40.8 million for stock-based compensation and $6.3 million for depreciation and amortization expense.
Investing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by investing activities of $101.9 million was primarily related to the maturities of marketable
securities of $652.5 million offset by purchases of marketable securities of $551.7 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash used in investing activities of $159.0 million was primarily related to the maturities of marketable
securities of $402.0 million offset by purchases of marketable securities of $556.9 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash used in investing activities of $49.7 million was primarily related to the maturities of marketable
securities of $286.3 million offset by purchases of marketable securities of $343.4 million and sales of marketable securities of $10.7 million.
Financing Activities
For the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by financing activities of $2.6 million was primarily from the exercise of options to purchase
common stock and the issuance of stock from the 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by financing activities of $4.5 million was primarily from the exercise of options to purchase
common stock.
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For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash provided by financing activities of $30.3 million was primarily from the exercise of options to purchase
common stock.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements
requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported revenue generated and expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are
based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis
for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these
estimates under different assumptions or conditions and any such differences may be material. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are
critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s judgments and
estimates.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when control of promised goods or services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is
expected to be received for those goods or services. In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under
arrangements, we perform the following steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii)
determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the
entity satisfies the performance obligations. If it is determined that multiple performance obligations exist, the transaction price is allocated at the inception
of the agreement to all identified performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling price (SSP). The relative SSP for each deliverable is
estimated using external sourced evidence if it is available. If external sourced evidence is not available, we use our best estimate of the SSP for the
deliverable.
We recognize collaboration revenue at a point in time if control of the promised good or service has been transferred to the customer. We recognize
collaboration revenue over time by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation using an input measure. In order to
recognize revenue over the research and development period, we measure actual costs incurred to date compared to the overall total expected costs to
satisfy the performance obligation. Revenues are recognized as the program costs are incurred. We re-evaluate the estimate of expected costs to satisfy the
performance obligation each reporting period and make adjustments for any significant changes. Clinical trials are expensive and can take many years to
complete, and the outcome is inherently uncertain. Changes in our forecasted costs are likely to occur over time based upon changes in clinical trial
procedures set forth in protocols, changes in estimates of manufacturing costs, or feedback from regulators on the design or operation of our clinical trials.
We have had changes to the overall expected costs to satisfy the performance obligations from period to period.
Accrued Research and Development Expenses
We record accrued expenses for estimated preclinical study and clinical trial expenses. Estimates are based on the services performed pursuant to
contracts with research institutions, CROs in connection with clinical studies, investigative sites in connection with clinical studies, vendors in connection
with preclinical development activities, and contract manufacturing organizations in connection with the production of materials for clinical trials. Further,
we accrue expenses related to clinical trials based on the level of patient enrollment and activity according to the related agreement. We monitor patient
enrollment levels and related activity to the extent reasonably possible and make judgments and estimates in determining the accrued balance in each
reporting period. If we underestimate or overestimate the level of services performed or the costs of these services, our actual expenses could differ from
our estimates. To date, we have not experienced significant changes in our estimates of preclinical studies and clinical trial accruals.
107
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based compensation is measured at the date of grant, based on the estimated fair value of the award and recognized as expense over the
employee’s requisite service period (usually the vesting period). We estimate the grant date fair value for options to purchase common stock, and the
resulting stock-based compensation, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of subjective assumptions which determine the fair value of stock-based awards. These
assumptions include:
Expected Term—The expected term represents the period that stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term was derived by
using the simplified method which uses the midpoint between the average vesting term and the contractual expiration period of the stock-based
award.
Expected Volatility—We have limited information on the volatility of our stock as shares of our common stock were not actively traded on any
public markets prior to February 7, 2019. The expected volatility was derived from the historical stock volatilities of comparable peer public
companies within our industry. These companies are considered to be comparable to our business over a period equivalent to the expected term of
the stock-based awards. In 2020, we began giving weight to our own historical volatility in the determination of expected volatility.
Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the measurement date for zero-coupon U.S.
Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term.
Expected Dividend—The expected dividend rate is zero because we have not historically paid and do not expect for the foreseeable future to pay a
dividend on our common stock.
Stock-based compensation associated with restricted stock units (RSUs) is based on the fair value of our common stock on the grant date, which
equals the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. We recognize expense over the vesting period of the awards. Expense for options and RSUs
that vest based only on a service condition is recognized on a straight-line basis.
We also granted RSUs with market conditions to certain executives. The fair value of the RSUs with market conditions are estimated using a Monte
Carlo simulation model. Assumptions and estimates utilized in the model include the stock price on grant date, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield,
expected stock volatility, and the estimated period to achieve the market condition. The expense is recognized based on continued employment of the
participants, regardless of achievement of the market condition. Expense related to the RSUs with market conditions is recognized using the accelerated
attribution method.
We account for forfeitures as they occur for all awards.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. These risks primarily include interest rate sensitivities. The primary objective
of our investment activities is to preserve capital to fund our operations. We also seek to maximize income from our investments without assuming
significant risk. To achieve our objectives, we maintain a portfolio of investments in a variety of securities of high credit quality and generally short-term
duration, invested in compliance with our policy.
We had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $548.9 million as of December 31, 2023, which consisted primarily of bank deposits,
money market funds, and government marketable securities. Such interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk; however, historical
fluctuations in interest income have not been significant for us. Due to the generally short-term maturities of our cash equivalents and marketable securities,
and the low risk profile of our marketable securities, an immediate 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates would cause a change in fair value
of approximately $2.1 million as of December 31, 2023.
We deposit cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions to minimize risk with respect to any amounts in excess of
insurance limitations. Cash and cash equivalents held at these deposit accounts are currently insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
up to a maximum of $250,000. As of
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December 31, 2023, approximately $3.9 million exceeded the FDIC limit, and the significant majority of the Company’s operating cash is held at
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Foreign Currency Risk
Our expenses are generally denominated in U.S. dollars. However, we have entered into a limited number of contracts with vendors for research and
development services with payments denominated in foreign currencies, including the Euro. We are subject to foreign currency transaction gains or losses
on our contracts denominated in foreign currencies. To date, foreign currency transaction gains and losses have not been material to our financial
statements, and we have not had a formal hedging program with respect to foreign currency. A 10% increase or decrease in current exchange rates would
not have a material effect on our financial results.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
ALECTOR, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
110
112
113
114
115
116
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Alector, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Alector, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated
statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023,
and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 27, 2024 expressed an unqualified
opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial
statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the
Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing
procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to
those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits
also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the
financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or
required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2)
involved our especially challenging,
110
subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial
statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or
on the account or disclosure to which it relates.
Revenue Recognition
Description of the Matter
The Company recorded collaboration revenue of $97.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. As described
in Note 2, collaboration revenue is recognized by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of the
performance obligations using an input measure. In order to recognize collaboration revenue over the research and
development period, the Company measures actual costs incurred to date compared to the overall total expected
costs to satisfy the performance obligations. Revenues are recognized as the program costs are incurred.
Auditing collaboration revenue was challenging as it involves assessing highly judgmental estimates with respect to
the Company’s determination of the total expected costs to satisfy the performance obligations.
How We Addressed the Matter in
Our Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of internal controls that
address the identified risks related to the Company’s process used to determine total expected costs to satisfy the
performance obligations, including management’s controls over updates to the budget for the relevant research and
development programs.
To test collaboration revenue, our audit procedures included, among others, obtaining an understanding of the
Company’s estimated costs to satisfy the performance obligations, as well as assessing management’s updates to
the budget for the relevant research and development programs. We also tested a sample of expenses recorded to
the development program, evaluated the historical accuracy of management’s budget estimates for the relevant
research and development programs, and inquired of Company personnel directly involved with supervising the
development programs.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
San Mateo, California
February 27, 2024
111
ALECTOR, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Receivable from collaboration partner
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Restricted cash
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued clinical supply costs
Accrued liabilities
Deferred revenue, current portion
Payable to collaboration partner
Refund liability to collaboration partner, current portion
Operating lease liabilities, current portion
Total current liabilities
Deferred revenue, long-term portion
Refund liability to collaboration partner, long-term portion
Operating lease liabilities, long-term portion
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized;
84,879,693 and 82,895,718 shares issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Accumulated deficit
Total stockholders’ equity
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
$
$
$
74,555 $
474,306
—
16,946
565,807
21,861
25,195
1,546
7,418
621,827 $
3,775 $
5,215
30,378
82,975
7,703
39,440
8,462
177,948
210,845
67,047
30,456
1,373
487,669
154,323
558,528
2,587
10,997
726,435
25,521
27,811
1,472
6,409
787,648
4,189
5,559
27,771
48,231
—
—
8,059
93,809
443,370
—
35,268
759
573,206
8
844,044
184
(710,078 )
134,158
621,827 $
8
798,696
(4,575 )
(579,687 )
214,442
787,648
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
112
ALECTOR, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Collaboration revenue
Operating expenses:
Research and development
General and administrative
Total operating expenses
Loss from operations
Other income, net
Loss before income taxes
Income tax expense
Net loss
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
Comprehensive loss
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
$
97,062 $
133,617 $
207,085
192,115
56,687
248,802
(151,740 )
26,561
(125,179 )
5,212
(130,391 )
4,759
(125,632 ) $
(1.56 ) $
210,418
61,033
271,451
(137,834 )
7,778
(130,056 )
3,254
(133,310 )
(3,632 )
(136,942 ) $
(1.62 ) $
189,407
55,038
244,445
(37,360 )
1,031
(36,329 )
—
(36,329 )
(1,557 )
(37,886 )
(0.45 )
$
$
Shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted
83,733,730
82,467,587
80,416,936
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
113
ALECTOR, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(In thousands, except share data)
Common Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Amount
Capital
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Accumulated Deficit
Total Stockholders’
Equity
$
$
8
—
—
676,956 $
28,530
—
614 $
—
—
(410,048 ) $
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
8
—
—
—
—
—
—
8
—
—
—
—
—
8
$
$
1,765
—
40,785
—
—
748,036
3,059
—
1,455
46,146
—
—
798,696 $
1,079
—
1,471
42,798
—
—
844,044 $
—
—
—
(1,557 )
—
(943 )
—
—
—
—
(3,632 )
—
(4,575 ) $
—
—
—
—
(36,329 )
(446,377 )
—
—
—
—
—
(133,310 )
(579,687 ) $
—
—
—
—
4,759
—
184 $
—
—
—
(130,391 )
(710,078 ) $
267,530
28,530
—
1,765
—
40,785
(1,557 )
(36,329 )
300,724
3,059
—
1,455
46,146
(3,632 )
(133,310 )
214,442
1,079
—
1,471
42,798
4,759
(130,391 )
134,158
Balance — December 31, 2020
Exercise of stock options
Vesting of restricted stock units
Purchase of common stock
under employee stock
purchase
plan
Forfeiture of restricted common
stock
Stock-based compensation
Unrealized loss on marketable
securities
Net loss
Balance — December 31, 2021
Shares
79,316,261
2,395,223
156,420
136,331
(18,043 )
—
—
—
81,986,192
298,238
414,578
196,710
—
Exercise of stock options
Vesting of restricted stock units
Purchase of common stock
under employee stock
purchase
plan
Stock-based compensation
Unrealized loss on marketable
—
securities
Net loss
—
Balance — December 31, 2022 82,895,718
132,191
Exercise of stock options
Vesting of restricted stock units
1,584,449
Purchase of common stock
under employee stock
purchase
plan
Stock-based compensation
Unrealized gain on marketable
—
securities
Net loss
—
Balance — December 31, 2023 84,879,693
267,335
—
$
$
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
114
ALECTOR, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Stock-based compensation
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on marketable securities
Amortization of right-of-use assets
Loss from disposal of fixed assets
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivable from collaboration partner
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Other assets
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities and accrued clinical supply costs
Payable to collaboration partner
Deferred revenue
Refund liability to collaboration partner
Lease liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment
Purchase of marketable securities
Maturities of marketable securities
Sale of marketable securities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the exercise of options to purchase common stock
Proceeds from issuance of stock from employee stock purchase plan
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Property and equipment purchases included in accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
$
(130,391 ) $
(133,310 ) $
(36,329 )
5,725
42,798
(15,318 )
3,123
48
2,587
(5,949 )
(1,009 )
(377 )
2,546
7,703
(66,782 )
(24,512 )
(4,968 )
614
(184,162 )
(2,381 )
(551,729 )
652,523
3,505
101,918
1,079
1,471
2,550
(79,694 )
155,795
76,101 $
5,714
46,146
(1,163 )
2,758
—
4,804
(3,926 )
(835 )
(572 )
(2,655 )
—
66,383
—
(4,274 )
601
(20,329 )
(4,117 )
(556,898 )
402,001
—
(159,014 )
3,059
1,455
4,514
(174,829 )
330,624
155,795 $
6,329
40,785
2,099
1,986
—
(7,391 )
1,132
(2,957 )
1,917
2,391
—
292,915
—
(4,012 )
(314 )
298,551
(3,247 )
(343,402 )
286,290
10,696
(49,663 )
28,530
1,765
30,295
279,183
51,441
330,624
$
172 $
493 $
705
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
115
1.
The Company
Alector, Inc. (Alector or the Company) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in South San Francisco, California. Alector is a clinical stage
biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegeneration.
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP)
as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Alector, Inc. and its
wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements
and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. The Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to
revenue recognition, manufacturing accruals, clinical accruals, fair value of assets and liabilities, income taxes uncertainties, stock-based
compensation, and related assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjusts those estimates and
assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents,
and short-term marketable securities. Cash and cash equivalents are deposited in checking and sweep accounts at financial institutions. Such
deposits may, at times, exceed federally insured limits.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash and cash
equivalents. Cash equivalents, which consist of amounts invested in money market funds, are stated at fair value.
Restricted cash relates to a letter of credit established for a lease entered into in June 2018.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum
to the total of the same amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
Marketable Securities
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
(In thousands)
$
$
74,555 $
1,546
76,101 $
154,323
1,472
155,795
All marketable securities have been classified as “available-for-sale” and are carried at fair value, based upon quoted market prices. The Company
considers its available-for-sale portfolio as available for use in current operations. Accordingly, the Company may classify certain investments as
short-term marketable securities, even though the stated maturity date may be one year or more beyond the current balance sheet date. For available-
for-sale debt securities, unrealized gains, net of any related tax effects, are excluded from earnings
116
and are included in other comprehensive income and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized. The Company assesses
available-for-sale debt securities on a quarterly basis to see if any unrealized loss is due to credit-related factors. Factors considered in determining
whether an impairment is credit-related include the extent to which the investment’s fair value is less than its cost basis, declines in published credit
ratings, changes in interest rates, and any other adverse factors related to the security. If it is determined that a credit-related impairment exists, the
Company will measure the credit loss based on a discounted cash flows model. Credit-related impairments on available-for-sale debt securities are
recognized as an allowance for credit losses with a corresponding adjustment to other income, net in the Company’s consolidated statement of
operations. The unrealized loss position that is not credit-related is recorded, net of any related tax effects, in other comprehensive income until
realized. There were no credit-related losses recognized for the periods presented.
The cost of securities sold is based on the specific-identification method. The amortized cost of securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums
and accretion of discounts to maturity. In accordance with our investment policy, management invests in money market funds, U.S. treasury
securities, corporate bonds, certificates of deposit, and commercial paper. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash, cash
equivalents, and marketable securities.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, receivable from collaboration partner, current and
noncurrent prepaid expenses, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities. The Company’s financial instruments approximate fair value due to their
relatively short maturities.
The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent
possible. The Company determines the fair value of its financial instruments based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an
asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the
following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:
Level 1 – Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date;
Level 2 – Inputs are observable, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for
identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable
market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities; and
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities that are supported by little or
no market data.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is computed using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, generally three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized
over the lesser of their useful lives or the remaining life of the lease. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related
accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the consolidated balance sheet and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in the
consolidated statements of operations in the period realized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to the consolidated statements of operations as
incurred.
Leases
The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at the inception of the lease. Leases are recognized on the balance sheet as
right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Lease liabilities and their corresponding right-of-use assets are recorded based on the present value of lease
payments over the expected lease term. The Company utilizes the appropriate incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate incurred to borrow on a
collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Certain adjustments to the right-
of-use asset may be required for items such as initial
117
direct costs paid or incentives received and any prepaid or accrued rent. Rent expense for the operating lease is recognized on a straight-line basis
over the lease term and is included in operating expenses on the statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Variable lease payments include
lease operating expenses.
The Company excludes balance sheet recognition of operating leases having a term of 12 months or less (short-term leases) and does not separate
lease components and non-lease components for its long-term leases.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset
may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount to the future net undiscounted cash flows which the assets
are expected to generate. If the total of the undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, an impairment loss is
recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds its fair value. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the
Company did not recognize an impairment loss on its long-lived assets.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when control of promised goods or services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the
consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as the
Company fulfills its obligations under arrangements, the Company performs the following steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (ii)
identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance
obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the performance obligation. If it is determined that multiple
performance obligations exist, the transaction price is allocated at the inception of the agreement to all identified performance obligations based on
the relative standalone selling price (SSP). The relative SSP for each performance obligation is estimated using external sourced evidence if it is
available. If external sourced evidence is not available, we use our best estimate of the SSP for the performance obligation.
The Company recognizes collaboration revenue at a point in time if control of the promised good or service has been transferred to the customer.
The Company recognizes collaboration revenue over time by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation
using an input measure. In order to recognize revenue over the research and development period, the Company measures actual costs incurred to
date compared to the overall total expected costs to satisfy the performance obligation. Revenues are recognized as the program costs are incurred.
The Company re-evaluates the estimate of expected costs to satisfy the performance obligation each reporting period.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and consist primarily of new product development. Research and development costs
include salaries and benefits, consultants’ fees, process development costs, stock-based compensation, and laboratory supplies, as well as fees paid
to third parties that conduct certain research and development activities on the Company’s behalf. In addition, research and development costs
include the reimbursable costs incurred for the collaboration agreements, which includes payroll costs for time incurred on projects, laboratory
supplies, and third-party research and development activities.
A substantial portion of the Company’s ongoing research and development activities are conducted by third-party service providers. The Company
records accrued expenses for estimated preclinical study and clinical trial expenses. Estimates are based on the services performed pursuant to
contracts with research institutions, CROs in connection with clinical studies, investigative sites in connection with clinical studies, vendors in
connection with preclinical development activities, and contract manufacturing organizations in connection with the production of materials for
clinical trials. Further, the Company accrues expenses related to clinical trials based on the level of patient enrollment and activity according to the
related agreement. The Company monitors patient enrollment levels and related activity to the extent reasonably possible and make judgments and
estimates in determining the accrued balance in each reporting period. If the Company underestimates or overestimates the level of services
performed or the costs of these services, actual expenses could differ from
118
estimates. To date, the Company has not experienced significant changes in its estimates of preclinical studies and clinical trial accruals.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock-based compensation is measured on the grant date based on the fair value of the awards. The fair value of options to purchase common stock
is measured using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Stock-based compensation associated with restricted stock units (RSUs) is based on the
fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date, which equals the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The
Company recognizes expense over the vesting period of the awards. Expense for options and RSUs that vest based only on a service condition is
recognized on a straight-line basis.
The fair value of RSUs with market conditions is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Assumptions and estimates utilized in the model
include the stock price on grant date, risk-free interest rate, dividend yield, expected stock volatility, and estimated period to achieve the market
condition. The expense is recognized based on continued employment of the participants, regardless of achievement of the market condition.
Expense related to the RSUs with market conditions is recognized using the accelerated attribution method.
The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur for all awards.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss includes net loss and certain changes in stockholders’ equity that are the result of transactions and economic events other than
those with stockholders. The Company’s only element of other comprehensive loss was net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for
the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using
enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax
assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent the Company believes that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. A valuation
allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Due to the Company’s
historical operating performance and the recorded cumulative net losses in prior periods, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a
valuation allowance.
The Company records uncertain tax positions using a two-step process. First, the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax
positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position. Second, for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not
recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement
with the related tax authority.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for taxes in the consolidated statements of
operations. The Company accrued $0.2 million interest and penalties for the year ended December 31, 2023.
119
Employee 401(k) Plan
The Company has a qualified contributory savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) covering substantially all
U.S. employees of Alector. The 401(k) plan is designed to provide tax-deferred retirement benefits in accordance with the provisions of Section
401(k) of the Code. Eligible employees may defer up to 100% of their eligible compensation up to the annual maximum as determined by the
Internal Revenue Service. The Company’s contributions to the plan are discretionary. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, the
Company made matching contributions of $1.1 million, $1.2 million, and $0.8 million, respectively.
Segments
The Company operates in one segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker, its Chief Executive Officer, manages the Company’s
operations on a consolidated basis for purposes of allocating resources.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which expands disclosures
in an entity’s income tax rate reconciliation table and disclosures regarding cash taxes paid both in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. The update
will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have
on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
3.
Fair Value Measurements
The following tables summarize the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy:
Money market funds
U.S. government treasury securities
Certificates of deposit
Commercial paper
Corporate bonds
Total cash equivalents and marketable
securities
Money market funds
U.S. government treasury securities
Commercial paper
Corporate bonds
Total cash equivalents and marketable
securities
Fair Value
Hierarchy
Amortized
Cost
December 31, 2023
Unrealized
Gains
(In thousands)
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Market
Value
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 2
Level 2
$
67,101 $
178,232
29,086
140,082
129,474
— $
86
63
85
173
— $
(112 )
—
(34 )
(78 )
67,101
178,206
29,149
140,133
129,569
$
543,975 $
407 $
(224 ) $
544,158
Fair Value
Hierarchy
Amortized
Cost
December 31, 2022
Unrealized
Gains
(In thousands)
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Market
Value
Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
Level 2
$
74,848 $
506,372
44,438
29,352
— $
7
2
4
— $
(4,569 )
(8 )
(10 )
74,848
501,810
44,432
29,346
$
655,010 $
13 $
(4,587 ) $
650,436
The Company’s Level 2 securities are valued using third-party pricing sources. The pricing services utilize industry standard valuation models for
which all significant inputs are observable. The Company classifies marketable securities available to fund current operations as current assets. As
of December 31, 2023, the remaining contractual maturities of $503.1 million of investments were less than one year and $41.1 million of
120
investment were after one year through two years. The Company does not intend to sell the investments that are currently in an unrealized loss
position, and it is highly unlikely that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may
be at maturity. For the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2021, the Company sold marketable securities for the total proceeds of $3.5 million and
$10.7 million for an immaterial realized loss and gain based on the specific identification method. The Company did not sell any marketable
securities for the years ended December 31, 2022.
4. Commitments and Contingencies
Contingencies
From time to time, the Company may be involved in litigation related to claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. The
Company accrues for these matters when it is probable that future expenditures will be made and these expenditures can be reasonably estimated. As
of December 31, 2023, the Company does not believe that any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on
the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Indemnification
The Company enters into customary indemnification arrangements in the ordinary course of business with vendors, clinical trial sites and other
parties. Pursuant to these arrangements, the Company indemnifies, holds harmless and agrees to reimburse the indemnified parties for certain losses
suffered or incurred by the indemnified party. The term of these indemnification agreements is generally perpetual any time after the execution of
the agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these arrangements is not
determinable. The Company has never incurred costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements. As a result, the
Company has not recorded a liability related to such indemnification agreements as of December 31, 2023. As permitted under Delaware law, the
Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers that requires it to indemnify its directors and officers against
liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Company also has
directors’ and officers’ insurance.
5. Collaboration Agreements
GSK
On July 1, 2021, the Company entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with Glaxo Wellcome UK Limited, a subsidiary of
GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK), pursuant to which the Company and GSK collaborate on the global development and commercialization of
progranulin-elevating monoclonal antibodies, including latozinemab, and AL101 (GSK Agreement). The GSK Agreement became effective on
August 17, 2021.
Under the terms of the GSK Agreement, the Company received $700 million in upfront payments, of which $500 million was received in August
2021 and $200 million was received in January 2022. In addition, based on the development and commercialization plan for latozinemab and
AL101, the Company may be eligible to receive up to an additional $1.5 billion in clinical development, regulatory, and commercial launch-related
milestone payments. In the United States, the Company and GSK will equally share profits and losses from commercialization of latozinemab and
AL101. Outside of the United States, the Company will be eligible for double-digit tiered royalties.
The Company and GSK will jointly develop latozinemab and AL101, with GSK conducting Phase 3 clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease,
Parkinson’s disease and other non-orphan indications. GSK will also conduct the initial Phase 2 trial for AL101 in Alzheimer’s disease.
Development costs will be shared 60% by GSK and 40% by the Company, except that subject to the GSK Amendment (defined below), the
Company will solely bear the development costs of the initial Phase 2 clinical trials under the development plan, and the parties will share
manufacturing development costs equally.
In May 2023, the Company and GSK amended the GSK Agreement (GSK Amendment). Under the terms of the GSK Amendment, the Company is
responsible for funding and sharing in GSK’s and the Company’s development costs up to $140.5 million for the conduct of the initial Phase 2 trial
for AL101 in Alzheimer’s
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disease. The Company assessed the GSK Amendment in accordance with ASC 606 and concluded that the GSK Amendment was a contract
modification to the GSK Agreement. Accordingly, the transaction price as of May 2023, was updated from $700 million to $571.6 million and the
difference of $128.4 million was recorded as refund liability to collaboration partner for the expected cost reimbursement to GSK. The refund
liability is an estimate of variable consideration calculated as the difference between the Company’s maximum funding of $140.5 million and the
Company’s cost budget estimated using the expected value method. The Company determined that the modified performance obligation for the
AL101 Alzheimer’s disease program is performing development activities to support the initial Phase 2 trial, including license rights and know-how.
The Company updated the cost-based input measure of progress for the modified performance obligation and recorded a cumulative catch-up
adjustment to revenue of $26.9 million on the modification date relating to the performance obligation which was satisfied in prior periods.
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, as a result of the planned closure of the latozinemab Phase 2 trial and concurrent agreement by
the Company to cost-share additional R&D, the Company determined there was a modification of the GSK Agreement, resulting in a decrease of the
scope of the performance obligation associated with the latozinemab FTD-C9orf72 Phase 2 trial and an increase in the amount of R&D cost-shared
by the Company in future periods. The impact of this additional cost share was accounted for as a refund liability, which reduced the transaction
price for the GSK Agreement by $4.2 million. The refund liability is an estimate of variable consideration. The Company determined that the
modified performance obligation for the latozinemab FTD-C9orf72 indication is performing the first Phase 2 development activities, including
license rights and know-how. The Company updated the cost-based input measure of progress for the modified performance obligation and recorded
a cumulative catch-up adjustment to revenue of $4.9 million on the modification date relating to the performance obligation that was satisfied in
prior periods.
The Company concluded that the GSK Agreement is within the scope of ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements, as both parties are active
participants in the activities and are exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the success of the commercialization of latozinemab and
AL101. Certain elements are required to be accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers, where the counterparty is a
customer for a good or service that is a distinct unit of account.
The Company determined that the distinct performance obligations under ASC 606 consisted of: (i) license and know-how to latozinemab FTD-
GRN, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical development and (ii) the research and development activities, including license rights and know-how,
relating to products in Phase 2 or earlier stages of development.
The transaction price at inception included fixed consideration consisting of the upfront payments of $700 million. The transaction price as of
December 31, 2023 was decreased to $569.0 million due to the estimated refund liabilities created from the contract modifications. The Company
reassessed the estimated refund liabilities to collaboration partner as of December 31, 2023 to be $106.5 million. All potential future milestones and
other payments were considered constrained at the inception of the GSK Agreement and as of December 31, 2023, since the Company could not
conclude it was probable that a significant reversal in the amount of revenue recognized would not occur.
The respective standalone value for each of the performance obligations was allocated to the transaction price. The estimated SSP of each
performance obligation was determined using discounted cash flows from the expected commercialization of latozinemab and AL101 and estimated
research and development costs to be incurred by the Company in each of the initial Phase 2 clinical trials. The estimate of SSP for each
performance obligation reflects management’s assumptions, which may include forecasted revenues, development timelines, discount rates, and
probabilities of technical and regulatory success. For the license for FTD-GRN, the Company determined that GSK could benefit from the license at
the time the license was granted and therefore, the related performance obligation was satisfied at a point in time. For the product candidates in
Phase 2 or earlier stages of development, the Company determined that GSK could not benefit from the licenses without the corresponding
development services that the Company has committed to perform due the earlier stage of development for these licenses. Except where agreed to
otherwise, the Company will perform research and development activities through the end of the initial Phase 2 clinical trials. Revenue will be
recognized over time as the research and development activities are performed. The
122
Company will measure progress based on actual costs incurred to date compared to the overall total expected costs to satisfy the performance
obligations.
The research and development activities for products in Phase 3 clinical development were determined to be within the scope of ASC 808. Both
parties will be active participants in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the product and are exposed to significant risks and
rewards that are dependent on the commercial success of the products. The Company and GSK participate in profit and loss sharing for each
program commensurate with each party’s cost-sharing responsibilities during research and development. ASC 808 does not provide recognition and
measurement guidance. As such, the Company determined that ASC 730, Research and Development, was appropriate to analogize to based on the
nature of the cost-sharing provision of the agreement. The Company has concluded that payments to or reimbursements from GSK related to these
services will be accounted for as an increase to or reduction of research and development expenses, respectively.
Collaboration revenue under the GSK Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, was $66.6 million and $62.9 million,
respectively, the entire amount of which was included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period. The deferred revenue related to the GSK
Agreement was $247.4 million and $444.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The deferred revenue is expected to be recognized over the
research and development period of the programs through the completion of initial Phase 2 clinical trials.
Costs associated with co-development activities performed under the agreement are included in research and development expenses in the
consolidated statements of operations, with any reimbursement of costs by GSK reflected as a reduction of such expenses. For the year ended
December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized a reduction of research and development expense of $21.8 million and $14.7 million,
respectively, under the GSK Agreement.
AbbVie
The Company entered into an agreement in October 2017 with AbbVie Biotechnology, Ltd. (AbbVie) to co-develop antibodies to two program
targets in preclinical development (AbbVie Agreement). Under the terms of the AbbVie Agreement, AbbVie made $205.0 million in upfront
payments, of which $5.0 million and $200.0 million were received by the Company in October 2017 and January 2018, respectively. The Company
was to perform research and development services for the two programs through the end of Phase 2 clinical trials, which were each considered to be
separate performance obligations. AbbVie decided to terminate one of the two collaboration programs, the CD33 collaboration program, after
AbbVie and Alector concluded that further development of AL003, the asset being developed under that program, was not warranted. AbbVie
provided written notice to terminate the CD33 collaboration program on June 30, 2022. Accordingly, the Company is no longer developing that
program and will not be eligible for any future milestones related to that program from AbbVie. The Company continues to develop the AL002
program under the AbbVie Agreement. AbbVie has the exclusive right to exercise an option under the AbbVie Agreement with the Company for
$250.0 million. If AbbVie exercises its option for the AL002 program, AbbVie would take over development of the product candidate, and the
program costs will be split between the parties. The Company would also share in profits and losses upon commercialization of any products.
Alternatively, following AbbVie’s exercise of its option for the AL002 program, the Company may opt out of sharing in development costs and
profits or losses for that program and instead receive tiered royalties. Additionally, under the terms of the AbbVie Agreement, the Company will be
eligible to earn up to an additional $225.0 million in milestone payments related to the regulatory approval for up to three indications. The Company
assessed its collaboration agreement with AbbVie in the context of the delivery of the research and development services.
In February 2023, the Company and AbbVie amended the AbbVie Agreement (AbbVie Amendment), which resulted in the Company receiving a
$17.8 million milestone payment in March 2023 for the dosing of the first patient in a long-term extension (LTE) trial. In addition, under the terms
of the AbbVie Amendment, the Company was eligible to earn up to an additional $12.5 million to support the enrollment of additional patients to
replace discontinuations. The performance obligations to conduct the LTE trial and enroll additional patients are not considered distinct from the
AL002 program performance obligation. The Company received $5.7 million related to the enrollment of additional patients from AbbVie in the
third quarter of 2023 and received the remaining $6.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The transaction price as of December 31,
123
2023 included fixed consideration consisting of the upfront payments of $205.0 million, the $17.8 million LTE milestone payment, and the $12.5
million payment for enrollment of additional patients.
Collaboration revenue under the AbbVie Agreement during the years ended December 31, 2023 was $30.5 million, $10.9 million of which was
included in deferred revenue at the beginning of the period. Collaboration revenue under the AbbVie Agreement during the years ended December
31, 2022 and 2021 was $70.7 million and $14.9 million, respectively. The deferred revenue related to the AbbVie Agreement was $46.4 million and
$46.7 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The deferred revenue is expected to be recognized over the research and
development period of the AL002 program through the completion of the ongoing Phase 2 and the Phase 2 LTE clinical trials.
6. Balance Sheet Components
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consists of the following:
Computer equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Lab equipment
Leasehold improvements
Property and equipment, gross
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
Total property and equipment, net
Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consist of the following:
Accrued research and development costs
Accrued employee compensation
Accrued professional services
Other
Total accrued liabilities
December 31,
2023
2022
(In thousands)
2,372 $
2,430
18,493
26,616
49,911
(28,050 )
21,861 $
2,310
2,430
17,165
26,228
48,133
(22,612 )
25,521
December 31,
2023
2022
(In thousands)
13,539 $
15,297
1,119
423
30,378 $
12,321
12,758
1,983
709
27,771
$
$
$
$
7. Leases
In June 2018, the Company signed a lease agreement to lease approximately 105,000 square feet in office and laboratory space in South San
Francisco which serves as the Company’s headquarters (the Headquarters). The lease expires in 2029 with an option to renew for a period of ten
years. The landlord paid for $15.7 million of tenant improvements. In connection with the lease, the Company entered into a letter of credit
arrangement in the amount of $1.5 million as collateral for the lease, which is classified as restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets. In
October 2020, the Company signed a lease agreement to lease approximately 18,700 square feet of office and laboratory space in Newark,
California. The lease term ends on February 6, 2028 with an option to extend for an additional five years. The landlord is obligated to pay for up to
$0.4 million of tenant improvements. The measurement of the lease liabilities for the leases excludes the options to extend the term
124
of the lease as such extensions are not reasonably certain to occur. Variable lease costs for all of the Company’s leases consist of operating expenses
for the spaces.
In May 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to sublease approximately 25,000 square feet of the Headquarters, which was amended to
approximately 23,600 square feet in December 2020. This Sublease expired in November 2021.
In November 2021, the Company entered into an agreement to sublease approximately 7,100 square feet of the Headquarters, which was amended in
May 2022 to include an additional space of 13,150 square feet. The 7,100 square feet of space subleased expired in December 2022 and the
additional space of 13,150 expired in November 2023. In October 2023, the Company entered into a second amendment to sublease approximately
13,250 square feet of the Headquarters. This sublease will expire in November 2024.
In February 2023, the Company entered into an agreement to sublease approximately 9,300 square feet of the Headquarters. This sublease will
expire in February 2025. The sublessee pays its proportionate share of operating expenses for the space.
The components of lease expense were as follows:
2023
December 31,
2022
(In thousands)
2021
Operating lease cost
Variable lease cost
Sublease income and reimbursement of variable lease
cost
Total
$
$
6,626 $
3,149
(2,482 )
7,293 $
6,638 $
2,785
(1,872 )
7,551 $
6,204
3,046
(2,141 )
7,109
As of December 31, 2023, the weighted-average remaining lease term for operating leases was 5.2 years and the weighted-average discount rate was
8.5%. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 was $8.4
million, $8.2 million, and $7.9 million, respectively, was included in net cash used in operating activities in our consolidated statements of cash
flows.
The following are the lease payments owed under the Company’s operating leases as of December 31, 2023:
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
Thereafter
Total undiscounted lease payments
Less: Present value adjustment
Total lease liability
125
(In thousands)
8,855
9,161
9,477
9,804
8,969
2,209
48,475
(9,557 )
38,918
$
$
8. Stock-based Compensation
The Company recognized stock-based compensation as follows (in thousands):
Research and development
General and administrative
Total stock-based compensation
Determination of Fair Value
2023
Year Ended
December 31,
2022
$
$
22,407 $
20,391
42,798 $
24,895 $
21,251
46,146 $
2021
21,443
19,342
40,785
The estimated grant-date fair value of all the Company’s options to purchase common stock was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing
model, based on the following assumptions:
Expected term (in years)
Expected volatility
Risk free interest rate
Dividend yield
2023
5.3 – 6.0
79% – 80%
3.5% – 4.6%
—
Year Ended December 31,
2022
5.3 – 6.1
79% – 80%
1.5% – 4.3%
—
2021
5.2 – 6.1
78% – 81%
0.5% – 1.3%
—
The fair value of each stock option was determined by the Company using the methods and assumptions discussed below. Each of these inputs is
subjective and generally requires judgment and estimation by management.
Expected Term—The expected term represents the period that stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. The expected term was
derived by using the simplified method which uses the midpoint between the average vesting term and the contractual expiration period of
the stock-based award.
Expected Volatility—The Company has limited information on the volatility of stock options as the shares were not actively traded on any
public markets prior to February 7, 2019. The expected volatility was derived from the historical stock volatilities of comparable peer public
companies within its industry. These companies are considered to be comparable to the Company’s business over a period equivalent to the
expected term of the stock-based awards. In 2020, the Company began giving weight to in its own historical volatility in the determination of
expected volatility.
Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant for zero-coupon
U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term.
Expected Dividend Rate—The expected dividend is zero as the Company has not paid nor does it anticipate paying any dividends on its
common stock in the foreseeable future.
2019 Equity Incentive Plan and 2022 Inducement Plan
On February 6, 2019, the Company adopted the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (2019 Plan) under which the Board may issue incentive stock options,
nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance units, and performance shares to the
Company’s employees, directors, and consultants. The Company’s 2017 Stock Option and Grant Plan (2017 Plan) was terminated; however, shares
subject to awards granted under it will continue to be governed by the 2017 Plan. Shares reserved for issuance but not issued pursuant to, or not
subject to, awards granted under the 2017 Plan were added to the available shares in the 2019 Plan. Shares subject to awards granted under the 2017
Plan that are repurchased by, or forfeited to, the Company will also be reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan. The board of directors, or a
committee appointed by the board of directors, has the authority to determine to whom options
126
or shares will be granted, the number of shares, the term, and the exercise price. If an individual owns stock representing 10% or more of the
outstanding shares, the exercise price of each share shall be at least 110% of the fair market value and the term of the award shall not exceed five
years. All other options granted under the 2019 Plan must have an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value on the date of grant and have
a term not to exceed ten years. The stock options generally vest over a four-year period with one forty-eighth of the shares vesting each month or
over a four-year period with 25% vesting at the one-year cliff and monthly thereafter. The RSUs generally vest over a period of three years with
one-twelfth of the shares vesting quarterly.
On January 1, 2023, the Company added 4,144,785 shares to the shares reserved for issuance under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. As of December
31, 2023, the Company had reserved 23,018,705 shares of common stock under the 2019 Plan, of which 6,579,341 shares were available for
issuance of future awards.
On January 1, 2022, the Company adopted the 2022 Inducement Plan (Inducement Plan) and reserved 1,630,000 shares for issuance under the
Inducement Plan for the grant of equity-based awards to individuals who were not previously employees or non-employee directors of the Company.
On September 22, 2022, the Company increased the number of shares available for issuance under the 2022 Inducement Plan to a total of 3,300,000
shares. As of December 31, 2023, 1,407,389 shares were available for issuance of future awards under the Inducement Plan.
Option activity is shown below:
Outstanding as of December 31, 2021
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Outstanding as of December 31, 2022
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Outstanding as of December 31, 2023
Exercisable as of December 31, 2023
Vested and expected to vest as of December 31,
2023
Number of
Options
$
11,644,070
4,996,366
(298,239 )
(2,628,925 )
13,713,272
572,538
(132,192 )
(2,057,381 )
12,096,237
$
8,467,987
12,096,237
$
$
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(In years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(In thousands)
16.41
12.11
10.26
18.28
14.62
6.98
8.16
14.21
14.40
14.80
14.40
6.7
$
6.0
$
6.7
$
676
62
676
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying stock options and the fair value of the
Company’s common stock for stock options that were in-the-money. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised was less than $0.1 million,
$1.2 million, and $37.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The weighted-average grant-date fair value
per share of options granted was $4.93, $8.42, and $14.70, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. As of December
31, 2023, total unrecognized stock-based compensation related to unvested stock options was $32.7 million, which the Company expects to
recognize over a remaining weighted-average period of 2.1 years.
Restricted Stock Unit Activity
Activity for the RSUs is shown below. In May 2021 and January 2022, the Company issued RSUs with market conditions to certain executives,
which are also included in the table below. The RSUs with market conditions are earned based on stock price performance and continued service by
the employee. The RSUs with market conditions trigger vesting upon the Company’s stock price attaining a specified level over a specified period
of time. The shares then vest quarterly over one year after attainment. The Company used a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine the fair
value of the awards at the grant date. The Monte Carlo
127
model uses the fair value inputs on the grant date to run simulations and take an average of possible outcomes. The total grant date fair value of the
RSUs with market condition was $6.6 million to be amortized over an estimated weighted average service period of 2.1 years. Compensation
expense related to awards with market-based conditions is recognized regardless of whether the market condition is ultimately satisfied if the related
service has been provided.
Unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2021
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2022
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Unvested restricted stock units as of
December 31, 2023
Number of
Shares
1,373,874 $
2,539,014
(414,577 )
(453,693 )
3,044,618
5,142,444
(1,584,448 )
(510,513 )
6,092,101 $
Weighted
Average
Grant
Date Fair
Value per
Share
18.35
10.02
18.63
16.21
11.68
6.62
10.41
10.03
7.78
As of December 31, 2023, total unrecognized stock-based compensation related to unvested restricted common stock issued to employees was $41.5
million, which the Company expects to recognize over a remaining weighted-average period of 2.3 years.
2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2019 ESPP) enables eligible employees of the Company to purchase shares of common stock at a
discount. Each offering period is approximately six months long beginning on the first trading day on or after June 1 and December 1 each year.
ESPP participants purchase shares of common stock at a price per share equal to 85% of the lesser of (1) the fair market value per share of the
common stock on the first trading day of the offering period or (2) the fair market value of the common stock on the purchase date. On January 1,
2023, 591,397 shares were added to the shares reserved for issuance under the 2019 ESPP pursuant to the annual automatic increase. As of
December 31, 2023, there was $0.4 million in unrecognized compensation expense related to the 2019 ESPP expected to be recognized over five
months.
9. Income Taxes
The federal and state income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are summarized as follows (in thousands):
Current:
Federal
State
Income tax provision
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
$
$
4,178 $
1,034
5,212 $
2,209
1,045
3,254
$
$
—
—
—
128
A reconciliation of the federal statutory rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and
2021 (in thousands):
Tax benefit at federal statutory rate
State income taxes
Tax credits, net of uncertain tax positions
Uncertain tax positions
Stock-based compensation
Change in valuation allowance
Other
Income tax provision
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
$
$
(26,188 ) $
(431 )
(14,460 )
612
4,842
40,661
176
5,212 $
(27,205 ) $
(344 )
(15,138 )
2,687
4,919
38,421
(86 )
3,254 $
(7,627 )
398
(7,042 )
—
(2,368 )
16,800
(161 )
—
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of (in
thousands):
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss
Accrued bonus
Tax credits
Stock-based compensation
Deferred revenue
Lease liability
Section 174 R&D capitalization
Refund liability
Other
Gross deferred tax assets
Less valuation allowance
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization
Right-of-use assets
Gross deferred tax liabilities
Deferred tax assets, net
December 31,
2023
2022
12,448
931
26,682
15,311
63,004
9,030
62,305
24,707
521
214,939
(204,550 )
10,389
(4,544 )
(5,845 )
(10,389 )
—
$
$
$
$
20,963
806
26,319
13,351
67,673
10,055
35,150
—
1,608
175,925
(164,316 )
11,609
(5,155 )
(6,454 )
(11,609 )
—
$
$
$
$
In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred
assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the
periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Evaluating the need for a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets often requires
judgment and analysis of all the positive and negative evidence available, including cumulative losses in recent years and projected future taxable
income, to determine whether all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has utilized
a full valuation allowance to offset the net deferred tax assets as the Company believes it is not more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets
will be fully realizable. The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets increased by $40.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had federal and state net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards of approximately zero and $202.2 million,
respectively. Federal NOL carryforwards have an indefinite life and deductions cannot exceed 80% of taxable income. State NOL carryforwards
will begin to expire as early as
129
2030, if not utilized, or have an indefinite life. As of December 31, 2023, the Company also had federal and California tax credit carryforward of
approximately $27.1 million and $19.3 million, respectively. The federal tax credits will begin to expire in 2041 while the California tax credits have
no expiration date.
Generally, utilization of the NOL carryforwards and credits may be subject to an annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided
by Section 382, which provides for limitations on NOL carryforwards and certain built-in losses following ownership changes, and Section 383,
which provides for special limitations on certain excess credits, etc., of the Code, and similar state provisions. Accordingly, the Company’s ability to
utilize NOL carryforwards may be limited as the result of such an “ownership change.” The carryforwards could be subject to an annual limitation,
resulting in a reduction in the gross deferred tax assets before considering the valuation allowance. Further, a portion of the carryforwards may
expire before being applied to reduce future earnings. The Company is not aware of any changes in ownership that would result in material
limitations under Section 382 at this time.
The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and
2021 (in thousands):
Balance as of December 31, 2021
Increases related to tax positions taken during the
current year
Balance as of December 31, 2022
Decreases related to tax positions taken during the
prior year
Increase related to tax positions taken during the
prior year
Increases related to tax positions taken during the
current year
Balance as of December 31, 2023
$
$
6,939
8,199
15,138
(594 )
2,588
3,071
20,203
If the unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2023, is recognized, there will be no impact to the effective tax rate
as the tax benefit would increase the net deferred tax assets, which is currently offset with a full valuation allowance. The Company’s policy is to
include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, within the provision for taxes in the consolidated statements of operations.
The Company accrued $0.2 million interest and penalties for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company does not have any tax positions for
which it is reasonably possible that the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change within 12 months of December 31,
2023.
The Company recognizes the tax benefit of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the position is sustainable upon
examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded an
uncertain tax position of $5.1 million and $8.2 million, respectively. The income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 2023, included
changes to reserves related to prior year uncertain tax provisions of an increase of $2.6 million and decrease of $0.6 million. The income tax
provision for the years ended December 31, 2022, included changes to reserves of zero. The Company’s income tax returns generally remain subject
to examination by federal and most state tax authorities. The Company is currently not subject to any income tax audits by federal or state taxing
authorities. The statute of limitations for tax liabilities for all years remains open.
10. Related Party Transactions
In 2014, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement with Adimab, LLC (Adimab) under which the Company is developing antibodies
discovered by Adimab in its latozinemab and AL101 programs and is developing antibodies optimized by Adimab in its AL002 program (2014
Adimab Agreement). The 2014 Adimab Agreement also provided for the Company’s development of antibodies optimized by Adimab in its AL003
program, which was terminated in June 2022. In August 2019, the Company signed a collaboration agreement with Adimab for research and
development of additional antibodies, the term of which was extended effective August 2022 (2019 Adimab Agreement). In December 2021, the
Company signed another
130
collaboration agreement with Adimab for antibody engineering research programs (2021 Adimab Agreement). The 2021 Adimab Agreement
expired and the Company did not exercise any option to carry forward any of the results. Tillman Gerngross, Ph.D, the Executive Chairman of the
board of directors of Adimab is a co-founder and former director of Alector. Dr. Gerngross resigned as a member of the Company’s board of
directors, effective June 15, 2023. For the years ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not incur any expenses related to Adimab. For the
years ended December 31, 2022, and 2021, the Company incurred expenses of $0.2 million, and $1.0 million, respectively. The Company had no
accrued liabilities due to Adimab as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Under the 2014 Adimab Agreement, the Company has made milestone
payments and will owe low- to mid- single-digit royalty payments for commercial sales of the product candidate. Under the 2019 Adimab
Agreement, the Company will owe certain milestone payments and low single-digit royalty payments for commercial sales of any covered product
candidates.
11. Net Loss Per Share
The following outstanding potentially dilutive shares have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented
due to their anti-dilutive effect:
Restricted stock subject to future vesting
Options to purchase common stock
Shares committed under 2019 ESPP
Total
12. Restructuring
2023
6,092,101
12,096,237
160,356
18,348,694
Year Ended
December 31,
2022
3,044,618
13,713,272
167,133
16,925,023
2021
1,373,874
11,644,070
70,406
13,088,350
On March 28, 2023, the Company committed to a plan to reduce its workforce by approximately 11% to better align the Company’s resources with
its previously announced strategic prioritization of its late-stage progranulin and TREM2 immuno-neurology programs. The Company initiated a
reduction in force impacting approximately 30 employees across the organization effective March 29, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2023,
the Company incurred restructuring costs of approximately $1.7 million, primarily consisting of one-time charges related to the reduction in force,
including personnel expenses such as salaries, one-time severance payments, and other benefits, which were included in operating expenses.
Accrued liabilities associated with restructuring costs were $0.1 million as of December 31, 2023.
13. Subsequent Events
On January 17, 2024, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (Cantor), relating to the issuance and sale
of 10,869,566 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $6.57 paid by Cantor. The Company also granted Cantor an option
exercisable for 30 days from the date of the underwriting agreement to purchase up to an additional 1,630,434 shares of common stock. Aggregate
gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $75.0 million before deducting $3.9 million for underwriting discounts and commissions and
estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The offering closed on January 19, 2024. The option to purchase additional shares was not
exercised by Cantor.
131
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Conclusions Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of December 31, 2023, management, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer,
performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-
15(e) of the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or
submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that
such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can
provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objective and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-
benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable
assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, that have materially affected, or
are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f)
under the Exchange Act) to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Under the supervision of and with the participation of our
principal executive officer and principal financial officer, our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2023 based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in “Internal Control—
Integrated Framework” (2013). Based on this assessment, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of
December 31, 2023.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Alector, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Alector, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control—
Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our
opinion, Alector, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based
on the COSO criteria.
132
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the
consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes, and our report dated February
27, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm
registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing
and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s
internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures
of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any
evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree
of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Mateo, California
February 27, 2024
Item 9B. Other Information.
(a)
None.
(b) During our last fiscal quarter, no director or officer, as defined in Rule 16a-1(f), adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or a
“non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” each as defined in Regulation S-K Item 408.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
133
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Information required by this item will be contained in our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
(the Proxy Statement) in connection with the Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2023, and is incorporated herein
by reference.
Our board of directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all officers, directors, and employees, which is available on
our website (https://investors.alector.com/corporate-governance/governance-overview) under “Governance Documents.” We intend to satisfy the disclosure
requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting
such information on the website address and location specified above.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2023, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
Information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2023, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2023, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Information required by this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2023, and is
incorporated herein by reference.
134
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1)
Financial Statements
PART IV
The consolidated financial statements of Alector, Inc. are filed as part of this report on Form 10-K under Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data.
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
All other schedules have been omitted because they are not required, not inapplicable, or the required information is included in the
consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(3)
Exhibits
The documents listed in the Exhibit Index are incorporated by reference or are filed with this report, in each case as indicated herein
(numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K).
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
Exhibit Index
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
Exhibit Title
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant.
Specimen common stock certificate of the Registrant
Description of securities of the Registrant.
Incorporated by Reference
File No.
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed
Herewith
001-38792
001-38792
333-229152
3.1
3.1
4.2
2/11/2019
6/15/2023
1/7/2019
Form
8-K
8-K
S-1
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each of
its directors and executive officers.
2017 Stock Option and Grant Plan as amended and forms of agreement
thereunder.
S-1
333-229152
10.1
1/7/2019
S-1
333-229152
10.2
1/7/2019
2019 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of agreements thereunder.
2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and form of agreement thereunder.
2022 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, and forms of
agreement thereunder.
8-K
333-229152
10.1
1//3/2022
Confirmatory Offer Letter between the Registrant and Arnon Rosenthal,
Ph.D.
S-1/A
333-229152
10.5
1/29/2019
Offer Letter dated November 30, 2021 by and between Alector, LLC and
Saraswati (Sara) Kenkare-Mitra, Ph.D.
10-K
001-38792
10.18
2/24/2022
135
X
X
X
Number
3.1
3.2
4.2
4.3
10.1+
10.2+
10.3+
10.4+
10.5+
10.6+
10.7+
10-8+
10.9+
10.10+
10.11+
10.12+
10.13
10.14#
10.15#
10.16#
10.17#
10.18#
10.19#
10.20#
10.21Δ
19
21.1
23.1
24.1
Offer Letter dated February 4, 2022 by and between Alector, LLC and
Marc Grasso, M.D.
10-K
001-38792
10.19
2/24/2022
Offer Letter dated January 31, 2022 by and between Alector, LLC and
Gary Romano, M.D., Ph.D.
8-K
001-38792
10.1
03/29/2022
Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.
Outside Director Compensation Policy.
S-1
333-229152
10.10
1/7/2019
Form of Change in Control and Severance Agreement between the
Registrant and certain of its executive officers.
S-1
333-229152
10.12
1/7/2019
Lease between the Registrant and HCP Oyster Point III, LLC, dated
June 27, 2018.
S-1
333-229152
10.14
1/7/2019
Third Amended and Restated Collaboration Agreement between the
Registrant and Adimab, dated September 19, 2016, as amended.
S-1
333-229152
10.15
1/7/2019
Co-Development and Option Agreement between the Registrant and
AbbVie Biotechnology, Ltd., dated October 16, 2017.
S-1
333-229152
10.16
1/7/2019
2019 Collaboration Agreement between the Registrant and Adimab,
LLC, dated August 16, 2019.
10-Q
001-38792
10.17
11/12/2019
Collaboration and License Agreement, dated July 1, 2021, by and
between Glaxo Wellcome UK Limited and Alector, Inc.
10-Q
001-38792
10.19
8/3/2021
Amendment Number One to the 2019 Collaboration Agreement between
the Registrant and Adimab, LLC, effective August 16, 2022.
10-K
001-38792
10.18
2/28/23
Letter Agreement Amending the 2021 Collaboration and License
Agreement between the Registrant and Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd. dated
May 19, 2023.
Amendment Number One to Co-Development and Option Agreement
between the Registrant and AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd., effective
February 13, 2023.
10-Q
001-38792
10.1
8/3/2023
10-Q
001-38792
10.1
5/4/2023
Sales Agreement, dated November 7, 2023, by and between Alector,
Inc., and Cowen and Company, LLC
8-K
001-38792
1.1
11/7/2023
Alector Inc. Insider Trading Policy
List of subsidiaries of Registrant.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Annual Report
on Form 10-K).
136
10-K
001-38792
21.1
2/24/2022
X
X
X
X
31.1
31.2
32.1*
32.2*
97Δ
101.INS
101.SCH
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a)
and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a)
and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002.
Compensation Recovery Policy
Inline XBRL Instance Document
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema With Embedded Linkbase
Documents
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL
document)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
+ Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
# Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Δ Certain schedules and exhibits to this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule
will be furnished to the SEC or its staff upon request.
* The certifications attached as Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2 that accompany this Annual Report on Form 10-K are not deemed filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, irrespective of any general
incorporation language contained in such filing.
137
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
Date: February 27, 2024
ALECTOR, INC.
By:
/s/ Arnon Rosenthal
Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Arnon Rosenthal,
Ph.D., Sara Kenkare-Mitra, Ph.D., and Marc Grasso, M.D. as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities (including his capacity as a director and/or officer of Alector,
Inc.) to sign any or all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as
they, he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their, his, or her
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on
behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date
February 27, 2024
/s/ Arnon Rosenthal
Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D.
/s/ Marc Grasso
Marc Grasso, M.D.
/s/ Lou J. Lavigne, Jr.
Louis J. Lavigne, Jr.
/s/ Elizabeth Garofalo
Elizabeth Garofalo, M.D.
/s/ Paula Hammond
Paula Hammond, Ph.D.
/s/ Terry McGuire
Terry McGuire
/s/ Richard Scheller
Richard Scheller, Ph.D.
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
February 27, 2024
Chairperson of the Board
February 27, 2024
Director
Director
Director
Director
138
February 27, 2024
February 27, 2024
February 27, 2024
February 27, 2024
/s/ David Wehner
David Wehner
s/ Kristine Yaffe
Kristine Yaffe, M.D.
Director
Director
139
February 27, 2024
February 27, 2024
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Exhibit 4.3
The following description summarizes certain important terms of the capital stock of Alector, Inc. (the “company,” “we,” “us” and “our”), as
well as certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws. This summary does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended
and restated bylaws, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as by the applicable provisions
of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Authorized Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of
convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Common Stock
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “ALEC.” The transfer agent and registrar for
our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 6201 15th Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York 11219.
Voting Rights
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the
election of directors. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting rights. Because of this, the holders of a
plurality of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they
should so choose. With respect to matters other than the election of directors, at any meeting of the stockholders at which a quorum is present
or represented, the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting
and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders, except as otherwise required by law. The holders of a majority
of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then-outstanding convertible preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled
to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.
Liquidation
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets
legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any
liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then-outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion, subscription, or other rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund
provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences, and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to and
may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our convertible preferred stock that we may designate in the
future.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one
or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences, and privileges could include
dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms, and the number of shares
constituting any series or the designation of such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. The issuance of
preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive
dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or
preventing change in our control or other corporate action.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law, Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Our
Amended and Restated Bylaws
Certain provisions of Delaware law and certain provisions that are included in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and
amended and restated bylaws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter, or prevent a tender
offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interests, including attempts that might result in a premium being
paid over the market price for the shares held by stockholders.
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that permit our board of directors to issue, without any further vote
or action by the stockholders, shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares
constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting rights (if any) of the shares of the series and the powers, preferences, or
relative, participation, optional, and other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations, or restrictions, of the shares of such series.
Classified Board of Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes, designated Class I,
Class II, and Class III. Each class is an equal number of directors, as nearly as possible, consisting of one-third of the total number of
directors constituting the entire board of directors. The term of initial Class I directors shall terminate on the date of the 2022 annual meeting,
the term of the initial Class II directors shall terminate on the date of the 2020 annual meeting, and the term of the initial Class III directors
shall terminate on the date of the 2021 annual meeting. At each annual meeting of stockholders, successors to the class of directors whose
term expires at that annual meeting will be elected for a three-year term.
Removal of Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that stockholders may only remove a director for cause by a vote of no less
than a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote.
Director Vacancies
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships.
No Cumulative Voting
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that stockholders do not have the right to cumulate votes in the election of
directors.
Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provides that, except as otherwise required by law,
special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Chairperson of our board of directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, or our board of directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the board of directors.
Advance Notice Procedures for Director Nominations
Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders
must provide timely notice thereof in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice generally will have to be delivered to and received at our
principal executive offices before notice of the meeting is issued by the secretary of the company, with such notice being served not less than
90 nor more than 120 days before the meeting. Although the amended and restated bylaws do not give the board of directors the power to
approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates to be elected at an annual meeting, the amended and restated bylaws may have
the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a
potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the
company.
Action by Written Consent
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that any action to be taken by the
stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by written consent.
Amending our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended or altered in any manner provided by the Delaware General
Corporation Law (“DGCL”). Our amended and restated bylaws may be adopted, amended, altered, or repealed by stockholders only upon
approval of at least majority of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of the common stock, except for any amendment of certain
provisions set forth in the bylaws, which would require the approval of a two-thirds majority of our then outstanding common stock.
Additionally, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our bylaws may be amended, altered, or repealed by the
board of directors.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval,
except as required by the listing standards of Nasdaq, and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to
raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and
preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the company by means of a proxy contest, tender
offer, merger, or otherwise.
Exclusive Jurisdiction
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that, unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware, or if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court in Delaware or the federal district court for the
District of Delaware, is the exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, (ii) any action asserting a
claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee to the us or our stockholders, (iii) any action arising
pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our certificate of incorporation or bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv)
any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except, in each case, (A) any claim as to which such court determines
that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal
jurisdiction of such court within 10 days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum
other than such court, or (C) for which such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Additionally, unless we consent to the selection
of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of
any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against any person in connection with any
offering of our securities, including, without limitation and for the avoidance of doubt, any auditor, underwriter, expert, control person or
other defendant. Although our amended and restated bylaws contain the exclusive of forum provisions described above, it is possible that a
court could find that such provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable, and our
stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders
We are governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a public Delaware
corporation from engaging in a business combination (as defined in such section) with an “interested stockholder” (defined generally as any
person who beneficially owns 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of such corporation or any person affiliated with such person) for
a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless (i) prior to such time the board of
directors of such corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an
interested stockholder; (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the
interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of such corporation at the time the transaction commenced (excluding for
purposes of determining the voting stock of such corporation outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested
stockholder) those shares owned (A) by persons who are directors and also officers of such corporation and (B) by employee stock plans in
which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a
tender or exchange offer); or (iii) at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the board of directors of such
corporation and authorized at a meeting of stockholders (and not by written consent) by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the
outstanding voting stock of such corporation not owned by the interested stockholder.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that we must indemnify our directors and
officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We are expressly authorized to, and do, carry directors’ and officers’ insurance
providing coverage for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification provisions and
insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive directors.
The limitation on liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from
bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of
derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders.
In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and
officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Exhibit 10.3
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are:
•
•
•
to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,
to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants, and
to promote the success of the Company’s business.
Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units and Performance Shares.
The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions will apply:
(a)
accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
“Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in
(b)
“Applicable Laws” means the legal and regulatory requirements relating to the administration of equity-
based awards and the related issuance of Shares thereunder, including but not limited to U.S. federal and state corporate laws,
U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or
quoted and the applicable laws of any non-U.S. country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares.
(c)
“Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation
applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(d)
“Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions
(e)
(f)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or
more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock
held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided,
however, that for
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purposes of this subsection, (A) the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty
percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control, and (B) if the
stockholders of the Company immediately before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in
ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to
the change in ownership, the direct or indirect beneficial ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of
the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event will not be considered a Change in Control
under this subsection (i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership will include, without limitation, an interest resulting
from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company, as the
case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or
(ii) A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of
members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not
endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this
subsection (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the
Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or
(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on
the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)‑month period ending on the date of the most recent
acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than
fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition
or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the
ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s
stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a stockholder of the Company
(immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (2) an entity, fifty percent (50%)
or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that owns,
directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company,
or (4) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a
Person described in this subsection (iii)(B)(3). For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of
the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated
with such assets.
For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of
a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the
Company.
transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Section 409A.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the
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Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its
sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will
be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such
transaction.
(g)
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the
Code or regulation thereunder will include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and
any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or
regulation.
appointed by the Board, or a duly authorized committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4 hereof.
(h)
“Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws
(i)
(j)
“Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company.
“Company” means Alector, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
(k)
“Consultant” means any natural person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary to render bona fide services to such entity, provided the services (i) are not in connection with the offer or sale of
securities in a capital‑raising transaction, and (ii) do not directly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, in
each case, within the meaning of Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act, and provided, further, that a Consultant will
include only those persons to whom the issuance of Shares may be registered under Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities
Act.
(l)
“Director” means a member of the Board.
(m)
“Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided
that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a
permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator
from time to time.
“Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any
Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be
sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
(n)
(o)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(p)
“Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled
in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a
different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial
institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is
increased or reduced. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.
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(q)
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) For purposes of any Awards granted on the Registration Date, the Fair Market Value will be
the initial price to the public as set forth in the final prospectus included within the registration statement in Form S-1 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial public offering of the Company’s Common Stock.
(ii) For purposes of any Awards granted on any other date, the Fair Market Value will be the
closing sales price for Common Stock as quoted on any established stock exchange or national market system (including without
limitation the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ
Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market) on which the Common Stock is listed on the date of determination (or the
closing bid, if no sales were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable. If the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a non-trading day (i.e., a weekend or holiday), the Fair
Market Value will be such price on the immediately preceding trading day, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. In
the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof will be determined in good faith by
the Administrator.
The determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s discretion
subject to Applicable Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.
(r)
(s)
“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.
“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(t)
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
“Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(u)
“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the
(v)
“Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(w)
“Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
the Code.
(x)
“Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of
(y)
“Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.
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upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 10.
(z)
“Performance Share” means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part
“Performance Unit” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of
performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or
other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 10.
(aa)
(bb) “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are
subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on
the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the
Administrator.
(cc)
“Plan” means this 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
(dd) “Registration Date” means the effective date of the first registration statement that is filed by the
Company and declared effective pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, with respect to any class of the Company’s
securities.
or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.
(ee)
“Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock award under Section 7 of the Plan,
“Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market
Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 8. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation
of the Company.
(ff)
discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
(gg) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when
(hh) “Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
“Section 409A” means Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and
any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be
promulgated thereunder from time to time.
(ii)
(jj)
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(kk) “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(ll)
“Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan.
pursuant to Section 9 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.
(mm) “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that
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(nn) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section
424(f) of the Code.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a)
Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan and the automatic increase
set forth in Section 3(b) of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is 7,688,156
Shares, plus (i) any Shares that, as of the date of stockholder approval of this Plan, have been reserved but not issued pursuant to
any awards granted under the Company’s 2017 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the “Existing Plan”) and are not subject to any
awards granted thereunder, and (ii) any Shares subject to stock options or similar awards granted under the Existing Plan that,
after the date of stockholder approval of this Plan, expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and Shares
issued pursuant to awards granted under the Existing Plan that, after the date of stockholder approval of this Plan, are forfeited to
or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of Shares to be added to the Plan pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii)
equal to 5,184,750 Shares. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
(b) Automatic Share Reserve Increase. Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan, the number of
Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year beginning with the 2020 Fiscal
Year, in an amount equal to the least of (i) 7,096,760 Shares, (ii) five percent (5%) of the outstanding Shares on the last day of the
immediately preceding Fiscal Year or (iii) such number of Shares determined by the Board.
(c)
Lapsed Awards. If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, is
surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or
Performance Shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards
other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights the forfeited or repurchased Shares), which were subject thereto will become
available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights, only
Shares actually issued (i.e., the net Shares issued) pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right will cease to be available under the
Plan; all remaining Shares under Stock Appreciation Rights will remain available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless
the Plan has terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan
and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if Shares issued pursuant to Awards
of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units are repurchased by the Company or are
forfeited to the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise
price of an Award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an Award will become available for future grant or sale
under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in
reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment
as provided in Section 14, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will
equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a), plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the Code and the
Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Sections
3(b) and 3(c).
6
such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
(d)
Share Reserve. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a)
Procedure.
Service Providers may administer the Plan.
(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of
16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(ii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule
Board or (B) a Committee, which committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.
(iii) Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the
Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee,
subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its
discretion:
(b)
(i)
to determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii)
to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
(v)
to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any
Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when
Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture
restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such
factors as the Administrator will determine;
(vi) to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program;
(vii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
7
(viii)to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and
regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable non-U.S. laws or for qualifying for favorable
tax treatment under applicable non-U.S. laws;
(ix) to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 19 of the Plan), including but not limited
to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards (subject to Section 6(b) of the Plan
regarding Incentive Stock Options);
Section 15 of the Plan;
(x)
to allow Participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations in such manner as prescribed in
the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
(xi) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect
would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award; and
(xii) to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that
(xiii)to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.
will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.
(c)
Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations
5. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units,
Performance Shares and Performance Units may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only
to Employees.
6. Stock Options.
(a)
Limitations. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option
or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of
the shares with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar
year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such
options will be treated as nonstatutory stock options. For purposes of this Section 6(a), incentive stock options will be taken into
account in the order in which they were granted. The fair market value of the shares will be determined as of the time the option
with respect to such shares is granted.
(b)
Term of Option. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an
Incentive Stock Option, the term will be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the
Award Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive
Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes
of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date
of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.
8
(c) Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
an Option will be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:
(i) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of
(1)
In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted,
owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share
on the date of grant.
(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (A)
immediately above, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per
Share on the date of grant.
than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(2)
In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price will be no less
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price
of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction
described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code.
(3)
(ii) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will
fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the
Option may be exercised.
(iii) Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of
consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the
Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely
of: (1) cash; (2) check; (3) promissory note, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, (4) other Shares, provided that such
Shares have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such
Option will be exercised and provided that accepting such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the
Company, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (5) consideration received by the Company under a broker-
assisted (or other) cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in
connection with the Plan; (6) by net exercise; (7) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to
the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or (8) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
(d)
Exercise of Option.
exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such
(i) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be
9
conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a
fraction of a Share.
An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) a notice of exercise (in
such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full
payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable withholding taxes). Full payment
may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award
Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested
by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive
dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the
exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No
adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as
provided in Section 14 of the Plan.
purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for
(ii) Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service
Provider, other than upon the Participant’s termination as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may
exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is
vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award
Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for three (3) months
following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the
Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the
Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the
Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
(iii) Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the
Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award
Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of
such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will
remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the
Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the
unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option
within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
10
(iv) Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be
exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that
the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been
designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by
the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to
whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In
the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following
Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or
her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan. If the Option is
not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to
the Plan.
(v) Tolling Expiration. A Participant’s Award Agreement may also provide that:
if the exercise of the Option following the termination of Participant’s status as a
Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b), then the
Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement, or (B) the
tenth (10th) day after the last date on which such exercise would result in liability under Section 16(b); or
(1)
(2)
if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Participant’s status as a
Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the
issuance of Shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option will terminate on the
earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option or (B) the expiration of a period of thirty (30) days after the termination of
the Participant’s status as a Service Provider during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such
registration requirements.
7. Restricted Stock.
(a) Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time
and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, will determine.
(b) Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement
that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the
Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company as escrow
agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.
11
Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 7 or the Award Agreement, Shares of Restricted Stock
may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of
Restriction.
(c)
of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.
(d) Other Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares
(e)
Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, Shares of Restricted Stock
covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day
of the Period of Restriction or at such other time as the Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its discretion, may
accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(f)
Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock
(g) Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of
Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the
Administrator provides otherwise. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the
same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.
Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.
(h) Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted
8. Restricted Stock Units.
(a) Grant. Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the
Administrator. After the Administrator determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, it will advise the
Participant in an Award Agreement of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of
Restricted Stock Units.
(b) Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which,
depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to
the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business
unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities
laws or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.
(c)
Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be
entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of
Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to
receive a payout.
12
Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as
practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its
sole discretion, may only settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.
(d)
(e)
Cancellation. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be
forfeited to the Company.
9. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a Stock
Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the
Administrator, in its sole discretion.
Appreciation Rights granted to any Service Provider.
(b) Number of Shares. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Stock
(c)
Exercise Price and Other Terms. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to
exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Administrator and will be no less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Otherwise, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the
Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan.
Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an
Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and
such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
(d)
(e)
Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire
ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement, as determined by the
Administrator, in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 6(d) relating to exercise also will apply
to Stock Appreciation Rights.
Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:
(f)
Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a
exercise price; times
(i) The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the
(ii) The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.
At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be in cash, in Shares of
equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
13
10.Performance Units and Performance Shares.
(a) Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to
Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The
Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to
each Participant.
(b) Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established
by the Administrator on or before the date of grant. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date of grant.
(c)
Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Administrator will set performance objectives or other
vesting provisions (including, without limitation, continued status as a Service Provider) in its discretion which, depending on the
extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Service
Providers. The time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions must be met will be called the
“Performance Period.” Each Award of Performance Units/Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the
Performance Period, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. The
Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, business unit or
individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), applicable federal or state securities laws, or
any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.
(d)
Earning of Performance Units/Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of
Performance Units/Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the
Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance
objectives or other vesting provisions have been achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, the Administrator, in its
sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Unit/Share.
(e)
Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares. Payment of earned Performance
Units/Shares will be made as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period. The Administrator, in
its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair
Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a
combination thereof.
unvested Performance Units/Shares will be forfeited to the Company, and again will be available for grant under the Plan.
(f)
Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or
11.Outside Director Limitations. No Outside Director may be paid, issued or granted, in any Fiscal Year, cash
compensation and equity awards (including any Awards issued under this Plan) with an aggregate value greater than $750,000,
increased to $1,000,000 in the Fiscal Year of his or her initial service as an Outside Director (with the value of each equity award
based on its grant date fair
14
value (determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles)). Any cash compensation paid or Awards
granted to an individual for his or her services as an Employee, or for his or her services as a Consultant (other than as an Outside
Director), will not count for purposes of the limitation under this Section 11.
12.Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards
granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the
case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the
Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months,
unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a
leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then six (6) months following the first (1st) day of such leave
any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for
tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
13.Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and
may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award
transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.
14.Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.
(a) Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares,
other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up,
spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate
structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the
benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of Shares that may be
delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical
Share limits in Section 3 of the Plan.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the
Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the
extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed
action.
(c)
Change in Control. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation or other
entity or a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines subject to the restriction in
the following paragraph, including, without limitation, that each Award be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by
the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. The Administrator will not be required to treat
all Awards or Participants similarly in the transaction.
15
In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award, the Participant will fully
vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, including Shares as to
which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, unless specifically provided otherwise under the
applicable Award Agreement, a Company policy applicable to the Participant, or other written agreement between the Participant
and the Company, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of
target levels and all other terms and conditions met. In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or
substituted in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the
Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion,
and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.
For the purposes of this subsection (c), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in
Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change
in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of
Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration,
the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such
consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the
Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise
of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit or Performance Share,
for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market
value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon
the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any
of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only
to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise
valid Award assumption.
(d) Outside Director Awards. With respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director, in the event of a
Change in Control, the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights as to
all of the Shares underlying such Award, including those Shares which would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all
restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based
vesting, unless specifically provided otherwise under the applicable Award Agreement, a Company policy applicable to the
Participant, or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company, all performance goals or other vesting criteria
will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met.
16
15.Tax.
(a) Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise
thereof) or such earlier time as any tax withholding obligations are due, the Company will have the power and the right to deduct
or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy U.S. federal, state, or local taxes,
non-U.S. taxes, or other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award
(or exercise thereof).
(b) Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as
it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by
(without limitation) (i) paying cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a fair
market value not in excess of the maximum statutory amount required to be withheld, or (iii) delivering to the Company already-
owned Shares having a fair market value not in excess of the maximum statutory amount required to be withheld. The fair
market value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.
(c)
Compliance With Section 409A. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are
either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A such that the grant, payment, settlement
or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in
the sole discretion of the Administrator. The Plan and each Award Agreement under the Plan is intended to meet the
requirements of Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent, except as otherwise
determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral
thereof, is subject to Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the
requirements of Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or
interest applicable under Section 409A. In no event will the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, as
applicable) reimburse a Participant for any taxes imposed or other costs incurred as a result of Section 409A.
16.No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with
respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s
right or the right of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company) to terminate such relationship at any time, with or
without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
17.Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the
determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination
will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
18.Term of Plan. Subject to Section 23 of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon the later to occur of (i) its
adoption by the Board or (ii) the business day immediately prior to the
17
Registration Date. It will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from the date adopted by the Board, unless terminated
earlier under Section 19 of the Plan.
19.Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
Plan.
(a) Amendment and Termination. The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the
extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.
(b)
Stockholder Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the
(c)
Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan
will materially impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the
Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will
not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan
prior to the date of such termination.
20.Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.
Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to an Award unless the exercise of such Award and
the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel
for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(a)
(b)
Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the
person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only
for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company,
such a representation is required.
21.Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having
jurisdiction or to complete or comply with the requirements of any registration or other qualification of the Shares under any U.S.
federal or state law, any non-U.S. law, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the stock
exchange on which Shares of the same class are then listed, or any other governmental or regulatory body, which authority,
registration, qualification or rule compliance is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary or advisable for the issuance
and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as
to which such requisite authority, registration, qualification or rule compliance will not have been obtained.
22.Clawback. The Administrator may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and/or
benefits with respect to an Award will be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, and/or recoupment upon the occurrence of
certain specified events, in addition to any applicable vesting, performance or other conditions and restrictions of an Award.
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary under this Plan, an Award granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
Company’s clawback policy (if any) as may be established and/or amended from
18
time to time. The Board may require a Participant to forfeit or return to and/or reimburse the Company all or a portion of the
Award and/or Shares issued under the Award, any amounts paid under the Award, and any payments or proceeds paid or provided
upon disposition of the Shares issued under the Award, pursuant to the terms of such Company policy or as necessary or
appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws.
23.Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12)
months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the
degree required under Applicable Laws.
19
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Alector, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) will have
the same defined meanings in this Stock Option Agreement, which includes the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Notice of
Grant”), the Terms and Conditions of Stock Option Grant attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Exercise Notice attached hereto as
Exhibit B, and all other exhibits and appendices attached hereto (all together, the “Option Agreement”).
NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
Participant:
Address:
The undersigned Participant has been granted an Option to purchase Common Stock of Alector, Inc. (the “Company”),
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as follows:
Grant Number:
_____________________________________
Date of Grant:
_____________________________________
Vesting Commencement Date: _____________________________________
Number of Shares Granted:
_____________________________________
Exercise Price per Share (in U.S. Dollars): $________________________________
Total Exercise Price(in U.S. Dollars): $____________________________________
Type of Option:
___ Incentive Stock Option
___ Nonstatutory Stock Option
Term/Expiration Date:
______________________________________
Vesting Schedule:
Subject to accelerated vesting as set forth below or in the Plan, this Option will be exercisable, in whole or in part, in
accordance with the following schedule:
[Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest on the one (1) year anniversary of the Vesting
Commencement Date, and one forty-eighth (1/48th) of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest each month thereafter on the
same day of the month as the Vesting Commencement Date (and if there is no corresponding day, on the last day of the month),
subject to Participant continuing to be a Service Provider through each such date.]
20
Termination Period:
This Option will be exercisable for [three (3) months] after Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, unless such
termination is due to Participant’s death or Disability, in which case this Option will be exercisable for [twelve (12) months] after
Participant ceases to be a Service Provider. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, in no event may this Option be exercised
after the Term/Expiration Date as provided above and this Option may be subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 14
of the Plan.
By Participant’s signature and the signature of the representative of the Company below, Participant and the Company
agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement,
including the Terms and Conditions of Stock Option Grant, attached hereto as Exhibit A, all of which are made a part of this
document. Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan. Participant has reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement
in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement, and fully
understands all provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and
final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan and the Option Agreement.
Participant further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.
PARTICIPANT
ALECTOR, INC.
_______________________
Signature
Signature
_______________________
Print Name
Print Name
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
Title
Address:
_______________________
_______________________
21
EXHIBIT A
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK OPTION GRANT
1. Grant of Option.
(a)
The Company hereby grants to the individual (“Participant”) named in the Notice of Stock Option Grant
of this Option Agreement (the “Notice of Grant”) an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the
Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Exercise Price”), subject to all of the terms
and conditions in this Option Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by this reference. Subject to Section 19(c) of
the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Option
Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan will prevail.
(b)
For U.S. taxpayers, the Option will be designated as either an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”) or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”). If designated in the Notice of Grant as an ISO, this Option is intended to qualify as an ISO
under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). However, if this Option is intended to be an
ISO, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d) it will be treated as an NSO. Further, if for any reason
this Option (or portion thereof) will not qualify as an ISO, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion
thereof) shall be regarded as a NSO granted under the Plan. In no event will the Administrator, the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary or any of their respective employees or directors have any liability to Participant (or any other person) due to the
failure of the Option to qualify for any reason as an ISO.
(c)
For non-U.S. taxpayers, the Option will be designated as an NSO.
2. Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in Section 3, the Option awarded by this Option Agreement will vest in
accordance with the vesting provisions set forth in the Notice of Grant. Shares subject to this Option that are scheduled to vest on
a certain date or upon the occurrence of a certain condition will not vest in accordance with any of the provisions of this Option
Agreement, unless Participant will have been continuously a Service Provider from the Date of Grant until the date such vesting
occurs.
3. Administrator Discretion. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of the balance, or some
lesser portion of the balance, of the unvested Option at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan. If so accelerated, such Option
will be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Administrator.
4. Exercise of Option.
may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.
(a)
Right to Exercise. This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and
in the form attached as Exhibit B to the Notice of Grant or in a manner
(b) Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice (the “Exercise Notice”)
and pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine, which will state the election to exercise the Option, the
number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and
agreements as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice will be completed
by Participant and delivered to the Company. The Exercise Notice will be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise
Price as to all Exercised Shares and of any Tax Obligations (as defined in Section 6(a)). This Option will be deemed to be
exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise Price.
5. Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price will be by any of the following, or a combination
thereof, at the election of Participant:
(a)
cash in U.S. dollars;
(b)
check designated in U.S. dollars;
Company in connection with the Plan; or
(c)
consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the
(d)
if Participant is a U.S. employee, surrender of other Shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of
surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares and that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims,
encumbrances, or security interests, provided that accepting such Shares, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, will not
result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company.
6. Tax Obligations.
(a)
Responsibility for Taxes. Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Company
or, if different, Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) or Parent or Subsidiary to which Participant is providing services
(together, the Company, Employer and/or Parent or Subsidiary to which the Participant is providing services, the “Service
Recipient”), the ultimate liability for any tax and/or social insurance liability obligations and requirements in connection with the
Option, including, without limitation, (i) all federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s Federal Insurance
Contributions Act (FICA) obligation) that are required to be withheld by the Company or the Service Recipient or other payment
of tax-related items related to Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant, (ii) the Participant’s and,
to the extent required by the Company (or Service Recipient), the Company’s (or Service Recipient’s) fringe benefit tax liability,
if any, associated with the grant, vesting, or exercise of the Option or sale of Shares, and (iii) any other Company (or Service
Recipient) taxes the responsibility for which the Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to the Option (or exercise
thereof or issuance of Shares thereunder) (collectively, the “Tax Obligations”), is and remains Participant’s responsibility and
may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Service Recipient. Participant further acknowledges that the
Company and/or the Service Recipient (A) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax
Obligations in connection with any aspect of the Option, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or exercise of the Option,
the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such exercise and the receipt of any dividends or other distributions,
2
and (B) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the Option to reduce or
eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax Obligations or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to Tax
Obligations in more than one jurisdiction between the Date of Grant and the date of any relevant taxable or tax withholding
event, as applicable, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Service Recipient (or former employer, as applicable)
may be required to withhold or account for Tax Obligations in more than one jurisdiction. If Participant fails to make satisfactory
arrangements for the payment of any required Tax Obligations hereunder at the time of the applicable taxable event, Participant
acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares.
(b)
Tax Withholding. When the Option is exercised, Participant generally will recognize immediate U.S.
taxable income if Participant is a U.S. taxpayer. If Participant is a non-U.S. taxpayer, Participant will be subject to applicable
taxes in his or her jurisdiction. Pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may specify from time to time, the Company
and/or Service Recipient shall withhold the amount required to be withheld for the payment of Tax Obligations. The
Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit Participant
to satisfy such Tax Obligations, in whole or in part (without limitation), if permissible by applicable local law, by (i) paying cash,
(ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares having a fair market value equal to the minimum
amount that is necessary to meet the withholding requirement for such Tax Obligations (or such greater amount as Participant
may elect if permitted by the Administrator, if such greater amount would not result in adverse financial accounting
consequences), (iii) withholding the amount of such Tax Obligations from Participant’s wages or other cash compensation paid to
Participant by the Company and/or the Service Recipient, (iv) delivering to the Company already vested and owned Shares
having a fair market value equal to such Tax Obligations, or (v) selling a sufficient number of such Shares otherwise deliverable
to Participant through such means as the Company may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise)
equal to the minimum amount that is necessary to meet the withholding requirement for such Tax Obligations (or such greater
amount as Participant may elect if permitted by the Administrator, if such greater amount would not result in adverse financial
accounting consequences). To the extent determined appropriate by the Company in its discretion, it will have the right (but not
the obligation) to satisfy any Tax Obligations by reducing the number of Shares otherwise deliverable to Participant. Further, if
Participant is subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction between the Date of Grant and a date of any relevant taxable or tax
withholding event, as applicable, Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company and/or the Service Recipient (and/or
former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for tax in more than one jurisdiction. If Participant fails
to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of any required Tax Obligations hereunder at the time of the Option exercise,
Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver the Shares if such
amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.
(c) Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the Option granted to Participant herein is an ISO,
and if Participant sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or before the later of (i) the
date two (2) years after the Date of Grant, or (ii) the date one (1) year after the date of exercise, Participant will immediately
notify the Company in writing of such disposition. Participant agrees that Participant may be subject to income tax withholding
by the Company on the compensation income recognized by Participant.
3
(d) Code Section 409A. Under Code Section 409A, a stock right (such as the Option) that vests after
December 31, 2004 (or that vested on or prior to such date but which was materially modified after October 3, 2004) that was
granted with a per share exercise price that is determined by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) to be less than the fair
market value of an underlying share on the date of grant (a “discount option”) may be considered “deferred compensation.” A
stock right that is a “discount option” may result in (i) income recognition by the recipient of the stock right prior to the exercise
of the stock right, (ii) an additional twenty percent (20%) federal income tax, and (iii) potential penalty and interest charges. The
“discount option” may also result in additional state income, penalty and interest tax to the recipient of the stock right.
Participant acknowledges that the Company cannot and has not guaranteed that the IRS will agree that the per Share exercise
price of this Option equals or exceeds the fair market value of a Share on the date of grant in a later examination. Participant
agrees that if the IRS determines that the Option was granted with a per Share exercise price that was less than the fair market
value of a Share on the date of grant, Participant shall be solely responsible for Participant’s costs related to such a determination.
7. Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the
rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates
representing such Shares (which may be in book entry form) will have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its
transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account). After
such issuance, recordation, and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to
voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.
8. No Guarantee of Continued Service. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING
OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A
SERVICE PROVIDER, WHICH UNLESS PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW IS AT THE WILL OF
THE COMPANY (OR THE SERVICE RECIPIENT) AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING
GRANTED THIS OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER. PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND
AGREES THAT THIS OPTION AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE
VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF
CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT
ALL, AND WILL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY
(OR THE SERVICE RECIPIENT) TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER,
SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW, WHICH TERMINATION, UNLESS PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNDER APPLICABLE
LAW, MAY BE AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
9. Nature of Grant. In accepting the Option, Participant acknowledges, understands and agrees that:
receive future grants of options, or benefits in lieu of options, even if options have been granted in the past;
(a)
the grant of the Option is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to
4
Company;
compensation;
(b)
all decisions with respect to future option or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the
(c)
Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
(d)
the Option and any Shares acquired under the Plan are not intended to replace any pension rights or
the Option and Shares acquired under the Plan and the income and value of same, are not part of normal
or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, dismissal, end-of-
service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;
(e)
with certainty;
(f)
the future value of the Shares underlying the Option is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted
(g)
if the underlying Shares do not increase in value, the Option will have no value;
(h)
in value, even below the Exercise Price;
if Participant exercises the Option and acquires Shares, the value of such Shares may increase or decrease
(i)
for purposes of the Option, Participant’s engagement as a Service Provider will be considered terminated
as of the date Participant is no longer actively providing services to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (regardless of the
reason for such termination and whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction
where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any), and unless
otherwise expressly provided in this Option Agreement (including by reference in the Notice of Grant to other arrangements or
contracts) or determined by the Administrator, (i) Participant’s right to vest in the Option under the Plan, if any, will terminate as
of such date and will not be extended by any notice period (e.g., Participant’s period of service would not include any contractual
notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where
Participant is a Service Provider or Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any, unless Participant is providing bona
fide services during such time); and (ii) the period (if any) during which Participant may exercise the Option after such
termination of Participant’s engagement as a Service Provider will commence on the date Participant ceases to actively provide
services and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is
employed or terms of Participant’s engagement agreement, if any; the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to
determine when Participant is no longer actively providing services for purposes of his or her Option grant (including whether
Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of absence and consistent with local law);
(j)
unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion, the Option and the benefits
evidenced by this Option Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the Option or any such benefits transferred to, or
assumed by, another company nor to be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any corporate transaction
affecting the Shares; and
5
(k)
the following provisions apply only if Participant is providing services outside the United States:
compensation or salary for any purpose;
(i) the Option and the Shares subject to the Option are not part of normal or expected
(ii) Participant acknowledges and agrees that no Service Recipient shall be liable for any
foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participant’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of
the Option or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the exercise of the Option or the subsequent sale of any Shares
acquired upon exercise; and
(iii) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the
Option resulting from the termination of Participant’s engagement as a Service Provider (for any reason whatsoever, whether or
not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the
terms of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any), and in consideration of the grant of the Option to which
Participant is otherwise not entitled, Participant irrevocably agrees never to institute any claim against any Service Recipient,
waives his or her ability, if any, to bring any such claim, and releases each Service Recipient from any such claim; if,
notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan,
Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agrees to execute any and all documents
necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claim.
10.No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company
making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan, or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the
underlying Shares. Participant is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors
regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
11.Data Privacy. Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in
electronic or other form, of Participant’s personal data as described in this Option Agreement and any other Option grant
materials by and among, as applicable, the Employer or other Service Recipient, the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary
for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.
Participant understands that the Company and the Employer may hold certain personal information about
Participant, including, but not limited to, Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social
insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the
Company, details of all Options or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or
outstanding in Participant’s favor (“Data”), for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the
Plan.
Participant understands that Data will be transferred to a stock plan service provider as may be selected by the
Company in the future, which is assisting the Company with the implementation, administration, and management of the
Plan. Participant understands that the recipients of the
6
Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and that the recipient’s country of operation (e.g., the United States)
may have different data privacy laws and protections than Participant’s country. Participant understands that if he or she
resides outside the United States, he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the
Data by contacting his or her local People representative. Participant authorizes the Company and any other possible
recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the
Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purposes of implementing,
administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan. Participant understands that Data will be held only as
long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participant’s participation in the Plan. Participant understands
that if he or she resides outside the United States, he or she may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about
the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in
any case without cost, by contacting in writing his or her local People representative. Further, Participant understands that
he or she is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later
seeks to revoke his or her consent, his or her engagement as a Service Provider and career with the Employer will not be
adversely affected; the only adverse consequence of refusing or withdrawing Participant’s consent is that the Company would
not be able to grant Participant Options or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore,
Participant understands that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect Participant’s ability to participate in the
Plan. For more information on the consequences of Participant’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant
understands that he or she may contact his or her local People representative.
12.Address for Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Option Agreement will be
addressed to the Company at Alector, Inc., 151 Oyster Point Blvd., Suite 300, South San Francisco, CA 94080, or at such other
address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.
13.Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the
laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by Participant.
14.Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Option Agreement to single or
multiple assignees, and this Option Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to
the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Option Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns. The rights and obligations of Participant under this Option Agreement may
only be assigned with the prior written consent of the Company.
15.Additional Conditions to Issuance of Stock. If at any time the Company will determine, in its discretion, that the
listing, registration, qualification or rule compliance of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state, federal or
non-U.S. law, the tax code and related regulations or under the rulings or regulations of the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body or the clearance, consent or approval of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory authority is necessary or desirable
7
as a condition to the purchase by, or issuance of Shares, to Participant (or his or her estate) hereunder, such purchase or issuance
will not occur unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, rule compliance, clearance, consent or approval will have
been completed, effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company. Subject to the terms of the Option
Agreement and the Plan, the Company shall not be required to issue any certificate or certificates for Shares hereunder prior to
the lapse of such reasonable period of time following the date of exercise of the Option as the Administrator may establish from
time to time for reasons of administrative convenience.
16.Language. If Participant has received this Option Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated
into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English
version will control.
17.Interpretation. The Administrator will have the power to interpret the Plan and this Option Agreement and to adopt
such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke
any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Shares subject to the Option have vested).
All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith will be final and binding
upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. Neither the Administrator nor any person acting on behalf of the
Administrator will be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan
or this Option Agreement.
18.Electronic Delivery and Acceptance. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents
related to the Option awarded under the Plan or future options that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or request
Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by
electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by
the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
19.Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or
construction of this Option Agreement.
20.Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision in this Option Agreement will be held invalid or unenforceable,
such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed to have any effect on, the
remaining provisions of this Option Agreement.
21.Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. By accepting this Option, Participant expressly warrants that he
or she has received an Option under the Plan, and has received, read, and understood a description of the Plan. Participant
understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time.
22.Governing Law and Venue. This Option Agreement will be governed by the laws of California, without giving effect
to the conflict of law principles thereof. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this Option or this Option
Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of California, and agree that such litigation
will be conducted
8
in the courts of San Mateo County, California, or the United States federal courts for the Northern District of California, and no
other courts, where this Option is made and/or to be performed.
23.Country Addendum. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Option Agreement, this Option shall be subject to any
special terms and conditions set forth in an appendix (if any) to this Option Agreement for any country whose laws are applicable
to Participant and this Option (as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion) (the “Country Addendum”). Moreover,
if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in the Country Addendum (if any), the special terms and conditions for
such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such terms and conditions is
necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. The Country Addendum (if any) constitutes a part of this Option
Agreement.
24.Modifications to the Agreement. This Option Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on the
subjects covered. Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Option Agreement in reliance on any
promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to this Option Agreement or the Plan
can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in the Plan or this Option Agreement, the Company reserves the right to revise this Option Agreement as it deems
necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of Participant, to comply with Code Section 409A or to
otherwise avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A of the Code in connection with the
Option.
25.No Waiver. Either party’s failure to enforce any provision or provisions of this Option Agreement shall not in any
way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions, nor prevent that party from thereafter enforcing each and every
other provision of this Option Agreement. The rights granted both parties herein are cumulative and shall not constitute a waiver
of either party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.
26.Tax Consequences. Participant has reviewed with his or her own tax advisors the U.S. federal, state, local and non-
U.S. tax consequences of this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Option Agreement. With respect to such
matters, Participant relies solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its
agents, written or oral. Participant understands that Participant (and not the Company) shall be responsible for Participant’s own
tax liability that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Option Agreement.
9
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
COUNTRY ADDENDUM
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This Country Addendum includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Option granted to Participant under the Plan if
Participant works in one of the countries listed below. If Participant is a citizen or resident of a country (or is considered as such
for local law purposes) other than the one in which he or she is currently working or if Participant relocates to another country
after receiving the Option, the Company will, in its discretion, determine the extent to which the terms and conditions contained
herein will be applicable to Participant.
Certain capitalized terms used but not defined in this Country Addendum shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan, and/or the
Stock Option Agreement to which this Country Addendum is attached.
NOTIFICATIONS
This Country Addendum also includes notifications relating to exchange control and other issues of which Participant should be
aware with respect to his or her participation in the Plan. The information is based on the exchange control, securities and other
. Such laws are often complex and change frequently.
laws in effect in the countries listed in this Country Addendum, as of
As a result, the Company strongly recommends that Participant not rely on the notifications herein as the only source of
information relating to the consequences of his or her participation in the Plan because the information may be outdated when
Participant exercises the Option or sells Shares acquired under the Plan.
In addition, the notifications are general in nature and may not apply to Participant’s particular situation, and the Company is not
in a position to assure Participant of any particular result. Accordingly, Participant is advised to seek appropriate professional
advice as to how the relevant laws in Participant’s country may apply to Participant’s situation.
Finally, if Participant is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which Participant is currently working (or is
considered as such for local law purposes) or if Participant moves to another country after the Option is granted, the information
contained herein may not be applicable to Participant.
EXHIBIT B
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
EXERCISE NOTICE
Alector, Inc.
151 Oyster Point Blvd., Suite 300
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Attention: Stock Administration
1. Exercise of Option. Effective as of today, ________________, _____, the undersigned (“Purchaser”) hereby elects to
purchase ______________ shares (the “Shares”) of the Common Stock of Alector, Inc. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to
the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and the Stock Option Agreement, dated ________ and including the Notice of Grant,
the Terms and Conditions of Stock Option Grant, and exhibits attached thereto (the “Option Agreement”). The purchase price for
the Shares will be $_____________, as required by the Option Agreement.
2. Delivery of Payment. Purchaser herewith delivers to the Company the full purchase price of the Shares and any Tax
Obligations (as defined in Section 6(a) of the Option Agreement) to be paid in connection with the exercise of the Option.
3. Representations of Purchaser. Purchaser acknowledges that Purchaser has received, read and understood the Plan and
the Option Agreement and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.
4. Rights as Stockholder. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a
duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a
stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to the Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Shares so
acquired will be issued to Purchaser as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a
dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.
5. Tax Consultation. Purchaser understands that Purchaser may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of
Purchaser’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. Purchaser represents that Purchaser has consulted with any tax consultants
Purchaser deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Purchaser is not relying on the
Company for any tax advice.
6. Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan and Option Agreement are incorporated herein by reference. This
Exercise Notice, the Plan and the Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Purchaser with respect to
the subject matter
hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Purchaser’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and
Purchaser. This Option Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of California.
Submitted by:
PURCHASER
Accepted by:
ALECTOR, INC.
_____________________________
Signature
Signature
_____________________________
_____________________________
Print Name
_____________________________
Print Name
Address:
_____________________________
Title
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Date Received
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 Equity INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Alector, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) will have
the same defined meanings in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, which includes the Notice of Restricted Stock Unit Grant
(the “Notice of Grant”), the Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Grant attached hereto as Exhibit A, and all other
exhibits and appendices attached hereto (all together, the “Award Agreement”).
Participant:
Address:
The undersigned Participant has been granted the right to receive an Award of Restricted Stock Units, subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement, as follows:
Grant Number:
______________________________
Date of Grant:
______________________________
Vesting Commencement Date:
______________________________
Number of Restricted Stock Units:
______________________________
Vesting Schedule:
Subject to any acceleration provisions contained in the Plan or set forth below, the Restricted Stock Units will vest in
accordance with the following schedule:
[Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Restricted Stock Units will vest on the one (1) year anniversary of the Vesting
Commencement Date, and one sixteenth (1/16th) of the Restricted Stock Units will vest quarterly thereafter on the same day as
the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to Participant continuing to be a Service Provider through each such date.]
In the event Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any or no reason before Participant vests in the Restricted
Stock Units, the Restricted Stock Units and Participant’s right to acquire any Shares hereunder will immediately terminate
By Participant’s signature and the signature of the representative of Alector, Inc. (the “Company”) below, Participant and
the Company agree that this Award of Restricted Stock Units is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the
Plan and this Award Agreement, including the Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Grant, attached hereto as Exhibit
A, all of which are made a part of this document. Participant acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan. Participant has reviewed
the Plan and this Award Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this
Award Agreement, and fully understands all
provisions of the Plan and this Award Agreement. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all
decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan and the Award Agreement. Participant
further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.
By accepting this Award Agreement, Participant expressly consents to the sale of Shares to cover the Tax
Withholding Obligations (as defined in the Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Grant) arising from the
Restricted Stock Units and any associated broker or other fees and agrees and acknowledges that Participant may not
satisfy them by any means other than such sale of Shares, unless required to do so by the Administrator or pursuant to
the Administrator’s express written consent.
PARTICIPANT
ALECTOR, INC.
_______________________________
Signature
Signature
_______________________________
_______________________________
Print Name
_______________________________
Print Name
_______________________________
Title
Address:
_______________________________
_______________________________
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT
EXHIBIT A
1. Grant of Restricted Stock Units. The Company hereby grants to the individual (the “Participant”) named in the Notice
of Grant of Restricted Stock Units of this Award Agreement (the “Notice of Grant”) under the Plan an Award of Restricted Stock
Units, subject to all of the terms and conditions in this Award Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Subject to Section 19(c) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award
Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.
2. Company’s Obligation to Pay. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive a Share on the date it vests.
Unless and until the Restricted Stock Units will have vested in the manner set forth in Section 3 or 4, Participant will have no
right to payment of any such Restricted Stock Units. Prior to actual payment of any vested Restricted Stock Units, such
Restricted Stock Unit will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of
the Company.
3. Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in Section 4, and subject to Section 5, the Restricted Stock Units awarded by
this Award Agreement will vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant, subject to Participant
continuing to be a Service Provider through each applicable vesting date.
4. Payment after Vesting.
(a) General Rule. Subject to Section 8, any Restricted Stock Units that vest will be paid to Participant (or in the
event of Participant’s death, to his or her properly designated beneficiary or estate) in whole Shares. Subject to the provisions of
Section 4(b), such vested Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in whole Shares as soon as practicable after vesting, but in each
such case within sixty (60) days following the vesting date. In no event will Participant be permitted, directly or indirectly, to
specify the taxable year of payment of any Restricted Stock Units payable under this Award Agreement.
(b) Acceleration.
(i) Discretionary Acceleration. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting of the
balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the unvested Restricted Stock Units at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan.
If so accelerated, such Restricted Stock Units will be considered as having vested as of the date specified by the Administrator. If
Participant is a U.S. taxpayer, the payment of Shares vesting pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall in all cases be paid at a time or in
a manner that is exempt from, or complies with, Section 409A. The prior sentence may be superseded in a future agreement or
amendment to this Award Agreement only by direct and specific reference to such sentence.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or this Award Agreement or any other agreement (whether
entered into before, on or after the Date of Grant), if the vesting of the balance, or some lesser portion of the balance, of the
Restricted Stock Units is accelerated in connection with Participant’s termination as a Service Provider (provided that such
termination is a “separation from
service” within the meaning of Section 409A, as determined by the Company), other than due to Participant’s death, and if (x)
Participant is a U.S. taxpayer and a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of such termination as a
Service Provider and (y) the payment of such accelerated Restricted Stock Units will result in the imposition of additional tax
under Section 409A if paid to Participant on or within the six (6) month period following Participant’s termination as a Service
Provider, then the payment of such accelerated Restricted Stock Units will not be made until the date six (6) months and one (1)
day following the date of Participant’s termination as a Service Provider, unless Participant dies following his or her termination
as a Service Provider, in which case, the Restricted Stock Units will be paid in Shares to Participant’s estate as soon as practicable
following his or her death.
(c)
Section 409A. It is the intent of this Award Agreement that it and all payments and benefits to U.S.
taxpayers hereunder be exempt from, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the Restricted Stock
Units provided under this Award Agreement or Shares issuable thereunder will be subject to the additional tax imposed under
Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to be so exempt or so comply. Each payment payable under this
Award Agreement is intended to constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2).
However, in no event will the Company reimburse Participant, or be otherwise responsible for, any taxes or costs that may be
imposed on Participant as a result of Section 409A. For purposes of this Award Agreement, “Section 409A” means Section 409A
of the Code, and any final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance thereunder, as each may be amended
from time to time.
5. Forfeiture Upon Termination as a Service Provider. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Award
Agreement, if Participant ceases to be a Service Provider for any or no reason, the then-unvested Restricted Stock Units awarded
by this Award Agreement will thereupon be forfeited at no cost to the Company and Participant will have no further rights
thereunder.
6. Tax Consequences. Participant has reviewed with his or her own tax advisors the U.S. federal, state, local and non-
U.S. tax consequences of this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Award Agreement. With respect to such
matters, Participant relies solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its
agents, written or oral. Participant understands that Participant (and not the Company) shall be responsible for Participant’s own
tax liability that may arise as a result of this investment or the transactions contemplated by this Award Agreement.
7. Death of Participant. Any distribution or delivery to be made to Participant under this Award Agreement will, if
Participant is then deceased, be made to Participant’s designated beneficiary, or if no beneficiary survives Participant, the
administrator or executor of Participant’s estate. Any such transferee must furnish the Company with (a) written notice of his or
her status as transferee, and (b) evidence satisfactory to the Company to establish the validity of the transfer and compliance with
any laws or regulations pertaining to said transfer.
8. Tax Obligations
(a) Responsibility for Taxes. Participant acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Company or,
if different, Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) or Parent or Subsidiary to which Participant is providing services (together,
the Company, Employer and/or Parent or Subsidiary to which the Participant is providing services, the “Service Recipient”), the
ultimate liability for any tax and/or social insurance liability obligations and requirements in connection with the Restricted Stock
Units, including, without limitation, (i) all federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s Federal Insurance
Contributions Act (FICA) obligation) that are required to be withheld by the Company or the Employer or other payment of tax-
related items related to Participant’s participation in the Plan and legally applicable to Participant, (ii) the Participant’s and, to the
extent required by the Company (or Service Recipient), the Company’s (or Service Recipient’s) fringe benefit tax liability, if any,
associated with the grant, vesting, or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or sale of Shares, and (iii) any other Company (or
Service Recipient) taxes the responsibility for which the Participant has, or has agreed to bear, with respect to the Restricted
Stock Units (or settlement thereof or issuance of Shares thereunder) (collectively, the “Tax Obligations”), is and remains
Participant’s responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Service Recipient. Participant
further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Service Recipient (A) make no representations or undertakings regarding the
treatment of any Tax Obligations in connection with any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units, including, but not limited to, the
grant, vesting or settlement of the Restricted Stock Units, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement and
the receipt of any dividends or other distributions, and (B) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of
the grant or any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax Obligations or achieve
any particular tax result. Further, if Participant is subject to Tax Obligations in more than one jurisdiction between the Date of
Grant and the date of any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Participant acknowledges that the Company
and/or the Service Recipient (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax Obligations in
more than one jurisdiction. If Participant fails to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of any required Tax
Obligations hereunder at the time of the applicable taxable event, Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company may
refuse to issue or deliver the Shares.
(b) Tax Withholding and Default Sell-to-Cover Method of Tax Withholding. When Shares are issued as
payment for vested Restricted Stock Units, Participant generally will recognize immediate U.S. taxable income if Participant is a
U.S. taxpayer. If Participant is a non-U.S. taxpayer, Participant will be subject to applicable taxes in his or her jurisdiction.
Subject to Section 8(c), the minimum amount of Tax Obligations which the Company determines must be withheld with respect
to this Award (“Tax Withholding Obligation”) will be satisfied by Shares being sold on Participant’s behalf at the prevailing
market price pursuant to such procedures as the Company may specify from time to time, including through a broker-assisted
arrangement (it being understood that the Shares to be sold must have vested pursuant to the terms of this Award Agreement and
the Plan) (the “Sell-to-Cover Method”). The proceeds from the Sell-to-Cover Method will be used to satisfy Participant’s Tax
Withholding Obligation arising with respect to this Award. In addition to Shares sold to satisfy the Tax Withholding Obligation,
additional Shares will be sold to satisfy any associated broker or other fees. Only whole Shares will be sold through the Sell-to-
Cover Method to satisfy any Tax Withholding Obligation and any associated broker or other fees. Any proceeds from the sale of
Shares in excess of the Tax Withholding Obligation and any associated broker or other fees generated through
the Sell-to-Cover Method will be paid to Participant in accordance with procedures the Company may specify from time to time.
By accepting this Award, Participant expressly consents to the sale of Shares to cover the Tax Withholding Obligation
(and any associated broker or other fees) through the Sell-to-Cover Method and agrees and acknowledges that
Participant may not satisfy them by any means other than such sale of Shares, unless required to do so by the
Administrator or pursuant to the Administrator’s express written consent.
(c) Administrator Discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing Sections 8(a) and 8(b), if the Administrator
determines it is in the best interests of the Company for Participant to satisfy Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation by a
method other than through the default Sell-to-Cover Method described in Section 8(b), it may permit or require Participant to
satisfy Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation, in whole or in part (without limitation), if permissible by Applicable Laws, by
(i) paying cash, (ii) withholding the amount of such Tax Withholding Obligation from Participant’s wages or other cash
compensation paid to Participant by the Company and/or the Service Recipient, (iii) delivering to the Company Shares that
Participant owns and that have vested with a fair market value equal to the amount required to be withheld (or such greater
amount up to the maximum statutory rate applicable to the Participant if permitted by the Administrator and provided such
greater amount would not result in adverse financial accounting consequences to the Company as determined by the
Administrator), (iv) by having the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares having a fair market value equal to the
amount required to be withheld (or such greater amount up to the maximum statutory rate applicable to the Participant if
permitted by the Administrator and provided such greater amount would not result in adverse financial accounting consequences
to the Company as determined by the Administrator) or (v) such other means as the Administrator deems appropriate.
(d) Company’s Obligation to Deliver Shares. For clarification purposes, in no event will the Company issue
Participant any Shares unless and until arrangements satisfactory to the Administrator have been made for the payment of
Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation. If Participant fails to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of such Tax
Withholding Obligations hereunder at the time any applicable Restricted Stock Units otherwise are scheduled to vest pursuant to
Sections 3 or 4 or Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligations otherwise become due, Participant will permanently forfeit such
Restricted Stock Units to which Participant’s Tax Withholding Obligation relates and any right to receive Shares thereunder and
such Restricted Stock Units will be returned to the Company at no cost to the Company. Participant acknowledges and agrees
that the Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares if such Tax Obligations are not delivered at the time they are due.
9. Rights as Stockholder. Neither Participant nor any person claiming under or through Participant will have any of the
rights or privileges of a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares deliverable hereunder unless and until certificates
representing such Shares (which may be in book entry form) will have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its
transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to Participant (including through electronic delivery to a brokerage account). After
such issuance, recordation, and delivery, Participant will have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to
voting such Shares and receipt of dividends and distributions on such Shares.
10. No Guarantee of Continued Service. PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING
OF THE RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS PURSUANT TO THE
VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, WHICH UNLESS
PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW IS AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (OR THE SERVICE
RECIPIENT) AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT
AWARD OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER. PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT
THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE
SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT
AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT
INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY (OR THE SERVICE
RECIPIENT) TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, SUBJECT TO
APPLICABLE LAW, WHICH TERMINATION, UNLESS PROVIDED OTHERWISE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, MAY BE
AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
11. Grant is Not Transferable. Except to the limited extent provided in Section 7, this grant and the rights and privileges
conferred hereby will not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or
otherwise) and will not be subject to sale under execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign,
pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of this grant, or any right or privilege conferred hereby, or upon any attempted sale
under any execution, attachment or similar process, this grant and the rights and privileges conferred hereby immediately will
become null and void.
12. Nature of Grant. In accepting the grant, Participant acknowledges, understands, and agrees that:
(a) the grant of the Restricted Stock Units is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or
other right to receive future grants of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Restricted Stock Units, even if Restricted Stock
Units have been granted in the past;
of the Company;
(b) all decisions with respect to future Restricted Stock Units or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion
(c) Participant is voluntarily participating in the Plan;
any pension rights or compensation;
(d) the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units are not intended to replace
(e) the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units, and the income and value of
same, are not part of normal or expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, termination,
redundancy, dismissal, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or
similar payments;
(f) the future value of the underlying Shares is unknown, indeterminable and cannot be predicted;
terminated as of the date Participant is no longer actively providing services to the
(g) for purposes of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant’s status as a Service Provider will be considered
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary (regardless of the reason for such termination and whether or not later to be found invalid
or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s
employment or service agreement, if any), and unless otherwise expressly provided in this Award Agreement (including by
reference in the Notice of Grant to other arrangements or contracts) or determined by the Administrator, Participant’s right to vest
in the Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, if any, will terminate as of such date and will not be extended by any notice period
(e.g., Participant’s period of service would not include any contractual notice period or any period of “garden leave” or similar
period mandated under employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms of Participant’s
employment or service agreement, if any, unless Participant is providing bona fide services during such time); the Administrator
shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively providing services for purposes of the
Restricted Stock Units grant (including whether Participant may still be considered to be providing services while on a leave of
absence and consistent with local law);
(h) unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion, the Restricted Stock Units and the
benefits evidenced by this Award Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the Restricted Stock Units or any such
benefits transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any
corporate transaction affecting the Shares; and
(i) the following provisions apply only if Participant is providing services outside the United States:
or expected compensation or salary for any purpose;
(i) the Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Units are not part of normal
(ii) Participant acknowledges and agrees that none of the Company, the Employer or any Parent or
Subsidiary shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between Participant’s local currency and the United States
Dollar that may affect the value of the Restricted Stock Units or of any amounts due to Participant pursuant to the settlement of
the Restricted Stock Units or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon settlement; and
(iii) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Restricted
Stock Units resulting from the termination of Participant’s status as a Service Provider (for any reason whatsoever whether or not
later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where Participant is a Service Provider or the terms
of Participant’s employment or service agreement, if any), and in consideration of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units to
which Participant is otherwise not entitled, Participant irrevocably agrees never to institute any claim against the Company, any
Parent or Subsidiary or the Service Recipient, waives his or her ability, if any, to bring any such claim, and releases the Company,
any Parent or Subsidiary and the Service Recipient from any such claim; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is
allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have
agreed not to pursue such claim and agrees to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of
such claim.
13. No Advice Regarding Grant. The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company
making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the
Plan, or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. Participant is hereby advised to consult with his or her own
personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
14. Data Privacy. Participant hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in
electronic or other form, of Participant’s personal data as described in this Award Agreement and any other Restricted Stock
Unit grant materials by and among, as applicable, the Employer or other Service Recipient, the Company and any Parent or
Subsidiary for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.
Participant understands that the Company and the Service Recipient may hold certain personal information about
Participant, including, but not limited to, Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social
insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the
Company, details of all Restricted Stock Units or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested,
unvested or outstanding in Participant’s favor (“Data”), for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and
managing the Plan.
Participant understands that Data will be transferred to a stock plan service provider as may be selected by the
Company in the future, which is assisting the Company with the implementation, administration, and management of the
Plan. Participant understands that the recipients of the Data may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and that the
recipients’ country of operation (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than
Participant’s country. Participant understands that if he or she resides outside the United States, he or she may request a list
with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local People representative.
Participant authorizes the Company, any stock plan service provider selected by the Company and any other possible
recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the
Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing,
administering and managing his or her participation in the Plan. Participant understands that Data will be held only as long
as is necessary to implement, administer and manage Participant’s participation in the Plan. Participant understands if he or
she resides outside the United States, he or she may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage
and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case
without cost, by contacting in writing his or her local People representative. Further, Participant understands that he or she
is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If Participant does not consent, or if Participant later seeks to
revoke his or her consent, his or her status as a Service Provider and career with the Service Recipient will not be adversely
affected; the only adverse consequence of refusing or withdrawing Participant’s consent is that the Company would not be
able to grant Participant Restricted Stock Units or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore,
Participant understands that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect Participant’s ability to participate in the
Plan. For more information on the consequences of Participant’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participant
understands that he or she may contact his or her local People representative.
15. Address for Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company under the terms of this Award Agreement will be
addressed to the Company at Alector, Inc., 151 Oyster Point Blvd., Suite 300, South San Francisco, CA 94080 or at such other
address as the Company may hereafter designate in writing.
16. Electronic Delivery and Acceptance. The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents
related to the Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Restricted Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan
by electronic means or request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Participant hereby consents to
receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system
established and maintained by the Company or a third party designated by the Company.
17. No Waiver. Either party’s failure to enforce any provision or provisions of this Award Agreement shall not in any
way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions, nor prevent that party from thereafter enforcing each and every
other provision of this Award Agreement. The rights granted both parties herein are cumulative and shall not constitute a waiver
of either party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.
18. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Award Agreement to single or
multiple assignees, and this Award Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to
the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Award Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns. The rights and obligations of Participant under this Award Agreement may
only be assigned with the prior written consent of the Company.
19. Additional Conditions to Issuance of Stock. If at any time the Company will determine, in its discretion, that the
listing, registration, qualification or rule compliance of the Shares upon any securities exchange or under any state, federal or
non-U.S. law, the tax code and related regulations or under the rulings or regulations of the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body or the clearance, consent or approval of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory authority is necessary or desirable as a condition to
the issuance of Shares to Participant (or his or her estate) hereunder, such issuance will not occur unless and until such listing,
registration, qualification, rule compliance, clearance, consent or approval will have been completed, effected or obtained free of
any conditions not acceptable to the Company. Subject to the terms of the Award Agreement and the Plan, the Company shall not
be required to issue any certificate or certificates for Shares hereunder prior to the lapse of such reasonable period of time
following the date of vesting of the Restricted Stock Units as the Administrator may establish from time to time for reasons of
administrative convenience.
20. Language. If Participant has received this Award Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated
into a language other than English and if the meaning of the translated version is different than the English version, the English
version will control.
21. Interpretation. The Administrator will have the power to interpret the Plan and this Award Agreement and to adopt
such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke
any such rules (including, but not limited to, the determination of whether or not any Restricted Stock Units have vested). All
actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith will be final and binding
upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. Neither the Administrator nor any person acting on behalf of the
Administrator will be personally liable for any action, determination, or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan
or this Award Agreement.
22. Captions. Captions provided herein are for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or
construction of this Award Agreement.
23 Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. By accepting this Award, Participant expressly warrants that he
or she has received an Award of Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, and has received, read, and understood a description of
the Plan. Participant understands that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended or terminated by the
Company at any time.
24 Modifications to the Award Agreement. This Award Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties on
the subjects covered. Participant expressly warrants that he or she is not accepting this Award Agreement in reliance on any
promises, representations, or inducements other than those contained herein. Modifications to this Award Agreement or the Plan
can be made only in an express written contract executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in the Plan or this Award Agreement, the Company reserves the right to revise this Award Agreement as it deems
necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion and without the consent of Participant, to comply with Section 409A or to otherwise
avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition under Section 409A in connection with this Award of Restricted
Stock Units.
25. Governing Law; Venue; Severability. This Award Agreement and the Restricted Stock Units are governed by the
internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of California. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under
these Restricted Stock Units or this Award Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of
California, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of San Mateo County, California, or the United States
federal courts for the Northern District of California, and no other courts, where this Award Agreement is made and/or to be
performed. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal,
unenforceable or void, this Award Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
26. Entire Agreement. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Award Agreement (including the
appendices and exhibits referenced herein) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject
matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Participant’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the
Company and Participant.
27. Country Addendum. Notwithstanding any provisions in this Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock Unit grant shall
be subject to any special terms and conditions set forth in an appendix (if any) to this Award Agreement for any country whose
laws are applicable to Participant and this Award of Restricted Stock Units (as determined by the Administrator in its sole
discretion) (the “Country Addendum”). Moreover, if Participant relocates to one of the countries included in the Country
Addendum (if any), the special terms and conditions for such country will apply to Participant, to the extent the Company
determines that the application of such terms and conditions is
necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. The Country Addendum constitutes part of this Award Agreement.
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
COUNTRY ADDENDUM
Exhibit 10.3
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This Country Addendum includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Award of Restricted Stock Units granted to
Participant under the Plan if Participant works in one of the countries listed below. If Participant is a citizen or resident of a
country (or is considered as such for local law purposes) other than the one in which he or she is currently working or if
Participant relocates to another country after receiving the Award of Restricted Stock Units, the Company will, in its discretion,
determine the extent to which the terms and conditions contained herein will be applicable to Participant.
Certain capitalized terms used but not defined in this Country Addendum shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan, and/or the
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement to which this Country Addendum is attached.
NOTIFICATIONS
This Country Addendum also includes notifications relating to exchange control and other issues of which Participant should be
aware with respect to his or her participation in the Plan. The information is based on the exchange control, securities and other
laws in effect in the countries listed in this Country Addendum, as of [DATE]. Such laws are often complex and change
frequently. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that Participant not rely on the notifications herein as the only source
of information relating to the consequences of his or her participation in the Plan because the information may be outdated when
Participant vests in the Restricted Stock Units and acquires Shares, or when Participant subsequently sell Shares acquired under
the Plan.
In addition, the notifications are general in nature and may not apply to Participant’s particular situation, and the Company is not
in a position to assure Participant of any particular result. Accordingly, Participant is advised to seek appropriate professional
advice as to how the relevant laws in Participant’s country may apply to Participant’s situation.
Finally, if Participant is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which Participant is currently working (or is
considered as such for local law purposes) or if Participant moves to another country after receiving the Award of Restricted
Stock Units, the information contained herein may not be applicable to Participant.
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Exhibit 10.4
1. Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Designated Companies with an opportunity to
purchase Common Stock through accumulated Contributions. The Company intends for the Plan to have two components: a component
that is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code (the “423 Component”) and a component
that is not intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code (the “Non-423 Component”). The
provisions of the 423 Component, accordingly, will be construed so as to extend and limit Plan participation in a uniform and
nondiscriminatory basis consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. An option to purchase shares of Common Stock under
the Non-423 Component will be granted pursuant to rules, procedures, or sub-plans adopted by the Administrator designed to achieve tax,
securities laws, or other objectives for Eligible Employees and the Company. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Non-423 Component
will operate and be administered in the same manner as the 423 Component.
2. Definitions.
(a)
“Administrator” means the Board or any Committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to
Section 14.
interest.
(b)
“Affiliate” means any entity, other than a Subsidiary, in which the Company has an equity or other ownership
“Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under U.S. state
corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is
listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where options are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
(c)
(d)
(e)
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than
one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person,
constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this
subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting
power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control. Further, if the stockholders of the Company immediately
before such change in ownership continue to retain immediately after the change in ownership, in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of shares of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to the change in ownership, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of
fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company or of the ultimate parent entity of the Company, such event
shall not be considered a Change in Control under this subsection (i). For this purpose, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without
limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the
Company, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities; or
(ii) A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members
of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12)-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of
the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this subsection (ii), if any Person is considered to
be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a
Change in Control; or
(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date
that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12)‑month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such
Person) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair
market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes
of this subsection, the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer
to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1)
a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (2) an entity,
fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that
owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (4)
an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in this
subsection (iii)(B)(3). For purposes of this subsection, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of
the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.
For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a
change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed
or final U.S. Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from
time to time.
Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to
change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in
substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code
will include such section, any valid regulation or other official applicable guidance promulgated under such section, and any comparable
provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
(f)
(g)
“Committee” means a committee of the Board appointed in accordance with Section 14 hereof.
2
(h)
(i)
“Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company.
“Company” means Alector, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.
(j)
“Compensation” includes an Eligible Employee’s base straight time gross earnings, but excludes payments for
incentive compensation, bonuses, payments for overtime and shift premium, equity compensation income and other similar compensation.
The Administrator, in its discretion, may, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, establish a different definition of Compensation for a
subsequent Offering Period.
made by a Participant to fund the exercise of options granted pursuant to the Plan.
(k)
“Contributions” means the payroll deductions and other additional payments that the Company may permit to be
(l)
“Designated Company” means any Subsidiary or Affiliate that has been designated by the Administrator from time
to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan. For purposes of the 423 Component, only the Company and its Subsidiaries
may be Designated Companies, provided, however that at any given time, a Subsidiary that is a Designated Company under the 423
Component will not be a Designated Company under the Non‑423 Component.
(m)
“Director” means a member of the Board.
(n)
“Eligible Employee” means any individual who is a common law employee providing services to the Company or a
Designated Company and is customarily employed for at least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any calendar
year by the Employer, or any lesser number of hours per week and/or number of months in any calendar year established by the
Administrator (if required under Applicable Laws) for purposes of any separate Offering or the Non-423 Component. For purposes of the
Plan, the employment relationship will be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence that the
Employer approves or is legally protected under Applicable Laws. Where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the individual’s
right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated three
(3) months and one (1) day following the commencement of such leave. The Administrator, in its discretion, from time to time may, prior to
an Enrollment Date for all options to be granted on such Enrollment Date in an Offering, determine (for each Offering under the 423
Component on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis or as otherwise permitted by Treasury Regulation Section 1.423 2) that the definition
of Eligible Employee will or will not include an individual if he or she: (i) has not completed at least two (2) years of service since his or her
last hire date (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (ii) customarily works not more than
twenty (20) hours per week (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (iii) customarily
works not more than five (5) months per calendar year (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its
discretion), (iv) is a highly compensated employee within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code, or (v) is a highly compensated
employee within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code with compensation above a certain level or is an officer or subject to the
disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, provided the exclusion is applied with respect to each Offering under the 423
Component in an identical manner to all highly compensated individuals of the Employer whose Eligible Employees are participating in that
Offering. Each exclusion will be applied with respect to an Offering under the 423 Component in a manner complying with U.S. Treasury
Regulation Section 1.423 2(e)(2)(ii). Such exclusions may be applied with respect to an Offering under the Non-423 Component without
regard to the limitations of U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423 2.
(o)
“Employer” means the employer of the applicable Eligible Employee(s).
3
(p)
(q)
promulgated thereunder.
“Enrollment Date” means the first Trading Day of an Offering Period.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations
(r)
“Exercise Date” means the last Trading Day of the Purchase Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event
that an Offering Period is terminated prior to its expiration pursuant to Section 20(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine
that any Purchase Period also terminating under such Offering Period will terminate without options being exercised on the Exercise Date
that otherwise would have occurred on the last Trading Day of such Purchase Period.
(s)
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Common Stock determined as follows:
will be the initial price to the public as set forth in the final prospectus included within the Registration Statement.
(i)
For purposes of the Enrollment Date of the first Offering Period under the Plan, the Fair Market Value
(ii) For all other purposes, the Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for Common Stock as
quoted on any established stock exchange or national market system (including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ
Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market) on which the Common
Stock is listed on the date of determination (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other
source as the Administrator deems reliable. If the determination date for the Fair Market Value occurs on a non-trading day (i.e., a weekend
or holiday), the Fair Market Value will be such price on the immediately preceding trading day, unless otherwise determined by the
Administrator. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof will be determined in good
faith by the Administrator.
The determination of fair market value for purposes of tax withholding may be made in the Administrator’s discretion subject to Applicable
Laws and is not required to be consistent with the determination of Fair Market Value for other purposes.
(t)
(u)
progress.
“Fiscal Year” means a fiscal year of the Company.
“New Exercise Date” means a new Exercise Date if the Administrator shortens any Offering Period then in
(v)
“Offering” means an offer under the Plan of an option that may be exercised during an Offering Period as further
described in Section 4. For purposes of the Plan, the Administrator may designate separate Offerings under the Plan (the terms of which
need not be identical) in which Eligible Employees of one or more Employers will participate, even if the dates of the applicable Offering
Periods of each such Offering are identical and the provisions of the Plan will separately apply to each Offering. To the extent permitted by
U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423‑2(a)(1), the terms of each Offering need not be identical provided that the terms of the Plan and an
Offering together satisfy U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423‑2(a)(2) and (a)(3).
the Plan may be exercised, commencing on the first Trading Day on or after June
(w)
“Offering Periods” means the periods of approximately six (6) months during which an option granted pursuant to
4
1 and December 1 of each year and terminating on the last Trading Day on or before December 1 and June 1, approximately six (6) months
later; provided, however, that the first Offering Period under the Plan will commence with the first Trading Day on or after the date on which
the Securities and Exchange Commission declares the Company’s Registration Statement effective and will end on the last Trading Day on or
before December 1, 2019, and provided, further, that the second Offering Period under the Plan will commence on the first Trading Day on or
after December 1, 2019. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Sections 4, 20 and 30.
(x)
(y)
(z)
“Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
“Participant” means an Eligible Employee that participates in the Plan.
“Plan” means this Alector, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(aa)
“Purchase Period” means the approximately six (6) month period commencing after one Exercise Date and ending
with the next Exercise Date, except that the first Purchase Period of any Offering Period will commence on the Enrollment Date and end with
the next Exercise Date. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, the Purchase Period will have the same duration and coincide with the
length of the Offering Period.
(bb)
“Purchase Price” means an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value on the Enrollment
Date or on the Exercise Date, whichever is lower; provided however, that the Purchase Price may be determined for subsequent Offering
Periods by the Administrator subject to compliance with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other Applicable
Law, regulation or stock exchange rule) or pursuant to Section 20.
(cc)
“Registration Date” means the effective date of the Registration Statement.
Commission for the initial public offering of the Common Stock.
(dd)
“Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange
(ee)
“Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of
the Code.
for trading.
(ff)
“Trading Day” means a day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed is open
“U.S. Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury regulations of the Code. Reference to a specific Treasury
Regulation will include such Treasury Regulation, the section of the Code under which such regulation was promulgated, and any
comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing, or superseding such Section or regulation.
(gg)
3. Eligibility.
will be automatically enrolled in the first Offering Period.
(a)
First Offering Period. Any individual who is an Eligible Employee immediately prior to the first Offering Period
5
Period will be eligible to participate in the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 5.
(b)
Subsequent Offering Periods. Any Eligible Employee on a given Enrollment Date subsequent to the first Offering
(c)
Non-U.S. Employees. Eligible Employees who are citizens or residents of a non-U.S. jurisdiction (without regard
to whether they also are citizens or residents of the United States or resident aliens (within the meaning of Section 7701(b)(1)(A) of the
Code)) may be excluded from participation in the Plan or an Offering if the participation of such Eligible Employees is prohibited under the
laws of the applicable jurisdiction or if complying with the laws of the applicable jurisdiction would cause the Plan or an Offering to violate
Section 423 of the Code. In the case of the Non-423 Component, Eligible Employees may be excluded from participation in the Plan or an
Offering if the Administrator determines that participation of such Eligible Employees is not advisable or practicable.
(d)
Limitations. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Eligible Employee will be granted an
option under the Plan (i) to the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose stock would be
attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase such stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total
combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) to
the extent that his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans (as defined in Section 423 of the Code) of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company accrues at a rate, which exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) worth of stock
(determined at the Fair Market Value of the stock at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is
outstanding at any time, as determined in accordance with Section 423 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
4. Offering Periods. The Plan will be implemented by consecutive Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on
the first Trading Day on or after June 1 and December 1 each year, or on such other dates as the Administrator will determine; provided,
however, that the first Offering Period under the Plan will commence with the first Trading Day on or after the Registration Date and end on
the last Trading Day on or before December 1, 2019, and provided, further, that the second Offering Period under the Plan will commence
on the first Trading Day on or after December 1, 2019. The Administrator will have the power to change the duration of Offering Periods
(including the commencement dates thereof) with respect to future Offerings without stockholder approval if such change is announced
prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected thereafter; provided, however, that no Offering Period may last
more than twenty-seven (27) months.
5. Participation.
(a)
First Offering Period. An Eligible Employee will be entitled to continue to participate in the first Offering Period
pursuant to Section 3(a) only if such individual submits a subscription agreement authorizing Contributions in a form determined by the
Administrator (which may be similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit A) to the Company’s designated plan administrator (i) no earlier
than the effective date of the Form S-8 registration statement with respect to the issuance of Common Stock under this Plan and (ii) no later
than ten (10) business days following the effective date of such Form S-8 registration statement or such other date as the Administrator may
determine (the “Enrollment Window”). An Eligible Employee’s failure to submit
6
the subscription agreement during the Enrollment Window will result in the automatic termination of such individual’s participation in the
first Offering Period.
(b)
Subsequent Offering Periods. An Eligible Employee may participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 3(b) by (i)
submitting to the Company’s stock administration office (or its designee) a properly completed subscription agreement authorizing
Contributions in the form provided by the Administrator for such purpose or (ii) following an electronic or other enrollment procedure
determined by the Administrator, in either case on or before a date determined by the Administrator prior to an applicable Enrollment Date.
6. Contributions.
(a)
At the time a Participant enrolls in the Plan pursuant to Section 5, he or she will elect to have Contributions (in the
form of payroll deductions or otherwise, to the extent permitted by the Administrator) made on each pay day during the Offering Period in an
amount not exceeding fifteen percent (15%) of the Compensation that he or she receives on the pay day (for illustrative purposes, should a
pay day occur on an Exercise Date, a Participant will have any Contributions made on such day applied to his or her account under the then-
current Purchase Period or Offering Period). The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may permit all Participants in a specified Offering to
contribute amounts to the Plan through payment by cash, check or other means set forth in the subscription agreement prior to each Exercise
Date of each Purchase Period. A Participant’s subscription agreement will remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated
as provided in Section 10 hereof.
(b)
In the event Contributions are made in the form of payroll deductions, such payroll deductions for a Participant will
commence on the first pay day following the Enrollment Date and will end on the last pay day on or prior to the last Exercise Date of such
Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 10 hereof;
provided, however, that for the first Offering Period, payroll deductions will commence on the first pay day on or following the end of the
Enrollment Window.
be made in whole percentages of his or her Compensation only. A Participant may not make any additional payments into such account.
(c)
All Contributions made for a Participant will be credited to his or her account under the Plan and Contributions will
(d)
A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided under Section 10. Unless otherwise
determined by the Administrator, during a Purchase Period, a Participant may not increase the rate of his or her Contributions and may only
decrease the rate of his or her Contributions one (1) time and such decrease must be to a Contribution rate of zero percent (0%). Any such
decrease during a Purchase Period requires the Participant (i) properly completing and submitting to the Company’s stock administration
office (or its designee) a new subscription agreement authorizing the change in Contribution rate in the form provided by the Administrator
for such purpose or (ii) following an electronic or other procedure prescribed by the Administrator, in either case on or before a date
determined by the Administrator prior to an applicable Exercise Date. If a Participant has not followed such procedures to change the rate of
Contributions, the rate of his or her Contributions will continue at the originally elected rate throughout the Purchase Period and future
Offering Periods and Purchase Periods (unless the Participant’s participation is terminated as provided in Sections 10 or 11). The
Administrator may, in its sole discretion, amend the nature and/or number of Contribution rate changes that may be made by Participants
during any Offering Period or Purchase Period
7
and may establish other conditions or limitations as it deems appropriate for Plan administration. Any change in the rate of Contributions
made pursuant to this Section 6(d) will be effective as of the first (1st) full payroll period following five (5) business days after the date on
which the change is made by the Participant (unless the Administrator, in its sole discretion, elects to process a given change in payroll
deduction rate earlier.
(e)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section
3(d), a Participant’s Contributions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time during a Purchase Period. Subject to Section 423(b)(8)
of the Code and Section 3(d) hereof, Contributions will recommence at the rate originally elected by the Participant effective as of the
beginning of the first Purchase Period scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the Participant as provided in
Section 10.
(f)
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the Plan, the Administrator may allow Participants to participate
in the Plan via cash contributions instead of payroll deductions if (i) payroll deductions are not permitted under Applicable Law, (ii) the
Administrator determines that cash contributions are permissible under Section 423 of the Code; or (iii) the Participants are participating in
the Non-423 Component.
(g)
At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Common Stock issued under
the Plan is disposed of (or any other time that a taxable event related to the Plan occurs), the Participant must make adequate provision for the
Company’s or Employer’s federal, state, local or any other tax liability payable to any authority including taxes imposed by jurisdictions
outside of the U.S., national insurance, social security or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the option
or the disposition of the Common Stock (or any other time that a taxable event related to the Plan occurs). At any time, the Company or the
Employer may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s compensation the amount necessary for the Company or the
Employer to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company or the Employer
any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Common Stock by the Eligible Employee. In addition, the Company
or the Employer may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock or any other method of
withholding the Company or the Employer deems appropriate to the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423‑2(f).
7. Grant of Option. On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each Eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period
will be granted an option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of
shares of Common Stock determined by dividing such Eligible Employee’s Contributions accumulated prior to such Exercise Date and
retained in the Eligible Employee’s account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event will an
Eligible Employee be permitted to purchase during each Purchase Period more than 2,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to any
adjustment pursuant to Section 19) and provided further that such purchase will be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(d) and 13
and in the subscription agreement. The Eligible Employee may accept the grant of such option (i) with respect to the first Offering Period by
submitting a properly completed subscription agreement in accordance with the requirements of Section 5 on or before the last day of the
Enrollment Window, and (ii) with respect to any subsequent Offering Period under the Plan, by electing to participate in the Plan in
accordance with the requirements of Section 5. The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute
discretion, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that an Eligible Employee may purchase during each Purchase Period.
Exercise of the option
8
will occur as provided in Section 8, unless the Participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10. The option will expire on the last day of the
Offering Period.
8. Exercise of Option.
(a)
Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10, his or her option for the purchase of shares
of Common Stock will be exercised automatically on each Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares subject to the option will
be purchased for such Participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated Contributions from his or her account. No fractional
shares of Common Stock will be purchased; any Contributions accumulated in a Participant’s account, which are not sufficient to purchase a
full share will be retained in the Participant’s account for the subsequent Purchase Period or Offering Period, as applicable, subject to earlier
withdrawal by the Participant as provided in Section 10. Any other funds left over in a Participant’s account after the Exercise Date will be
returned to the Participant. During a Participant’s lifetime, a Participant’s option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or
her.
(b)
If the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect
to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that were available for sale under the Plan on the
Enrollment Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock available for sale under the Plan on such
Exercise Date, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (x) provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the shares of
Common Stock available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be practicable
and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such
Exercise Date, and continue all Offering Periods then in effect or (y) provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the shares
of Common Stock available for purchase on such Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be
practicable and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock
on such Exercise Date, and terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20. The Company may make a pro rata
allocation of the shares available on the Enrollment Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence,
notwithstanding any authorization of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s stockholders subsequent to such
Enrollment Date.
9. Delivery. As soon as reasonably practicable after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of shares of Common Stock occurs,
the Company will arrange the delivery to each Participant of the shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option in a form determined by
the Administrator (in its sole discretion) and pursuant to rules established by the Administrator. The Company may permit or require that
shares be deposited directly with a broker designated by the Company or to a designated agent of the Company, and the Company may utilize
electronic or automated methods of share transfer. The Company may require that shares be retained with such broker or agent for a
designated period of time and/or may establish other procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions of such shares. No
Participant will have any voting, dividend, or other stockholder rights with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to any option granted
under the Plan until such shares have been purchased and delivered to the Participant as provided in this Section 9.
10. Withdrawal.
to exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time by (i) submitting to the
(a)
A Participant may withdraw all but not less than all the Contributions credited to his or her account and not yet used
9
Company’s stock administration office (or its designee) a written notice of withdrawal in the form determined by the Administrator for such
purpose (which may be similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit B), or (ii) following an electronic or other withdrawal procedure
determined by the Administrator. The Administrator may set forth a deadline of when a withdrawal must occur to be effective prior to a
given Exercise Date in accordance with policies it may approve from time to time. All of the Participant’s Contributions credited to his or
her account will be paid to such Participant promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such Participant’s option for the Offering
Period will be automatically terminated, and no further Contributions for the purchase of shares will be made for such Offering Period. If a
Participant withdraws from an Offering Period, Contributions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period, unless the
Participant re-enrolls in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.
A Participant’s withdrawal from an Offering Period will not have any effect on his or her eligibility to participate in
any similar plan that may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods that commence after the termination of the
Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.
(b)
11. Termination of Employment. Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, he or she will be deemed
to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the Contributions credited to such Participant’s account during the Offering Period but not yet
used to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan will be returned to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person
or persons entitled thereto under Section 15, and such Participant’s option will be automatically terminated. Unless otherwise provided by
the Administrator, a Participant whose employment transfers between entities through a termination with an immediate rehire (with no break
in service) by the Company or a Designated Company will not be treated as terminated under the Plan; however, if a Participant transfers
from an Offering under the 423 Component to the Non-423 Component, the exercise of the option will be qualified under the 423
Component only to the extent it complies with Section 423 of the Code, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator.
12. Interest. No interest will accrue on the Contributions of a participant in the Plan, except as may be required by Applicable Law,
as determined by the Company, and if so required by the laws of a particular jurisdiction, will apply to all Participants in the relevant
Offering under the 423 Component, except to the extent otherwise permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423‑2(f).
13. Stock.
(a)
Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19 hereof, the
maximum number of shares of Common Stock that will be made available for sale under the Plan will be 1,478,492 shares of Common
Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year
beginning with the 2020 Fiscal Year equal to the least of (i) 591,397 shares of Common Stock, (ii) one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, or (iii) an amount determined by the Administrator no later than
the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year.
Until the shares of Common Stock are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company
or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), a Participant will have only the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such
shares, and no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to such shares.
(b)
10
Participant or in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse.
(c)
Shares of Common Stock to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the
14. Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Board or a Committee appointed by the Board, which Committee will be
constituted to comply with Applicable Laws. The Administrator will have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret
and apply the terms of the Plan, to delegate ministerial duties to any of the Company’s employees, to designate separate Offerings under the
Plan, to designate Subsidiaries and Affiliates as participating in the 423 Component or Non-423 Component, to determine eligibility, to
adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan and to establish such procedures that it deems necessary for the administration of the Plan
(including, without limitation, to adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit the participation in the Plan
by employees who are foreign nationals or employed outside the U.S., the terms of which sub-plans may take precedence over other
provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section 13(a) hereof, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the
provisions of this Plan will govern the operation of such sub-plan). Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the Eligible
Employees eligible to participate in each sub-plan will participate in a separate Offering or in the Non-423 Component. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding eligibility to participate, the
definition of Compensation, handling of Contributions, making of Contributions to the Plan (including, without limitation, in forms other
than payroll deductions), establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold Contributions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency,
obligations to pay payroll tax, determination of beneficiary designation requirements, withholding procedures and handling of stock
certificates that vary with applicable local requirements. The Administrator also is authorized to determine that, to the extent permitted by
U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423‑2(f), the terms of an option granted under the Plan or an Offering to citizens or residents of a non-
U.S. jurisdiction will be less favorable than the terms of options granted under the Plan or the same Offering to employees resident solely in
the U.S. Every finding, decision, and determination made by the Administrator will, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding
upon all parties.
15. Designation of Beneficiary.
(a)
If permitted by the Administrator, a Participant may file a designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares
of Common Stock and cash, if any, from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death subsequent to an
Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such Participant of such shares and cash. In addition, if permitted by
the Administrator, a Participant may file a designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the Participant’s account under the
Plan in the event of such Participant’s death prior to exercise of the option. If a Participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not
the spouse, spousal consent will be required for such designation to be effective.
(b)
Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by notice in a form determined by
the Administrator. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is
living at the time of such Participant’s death, the Company will deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate
of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its
discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives
11
of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.
All beneficiary designations will be in such form and manner as the Administrator may designate from time to time.
Notwithstanding Sections 15(a) and (b) above, the Company and/or the Administrator may decide not to permit such designations by
Participants in non-U.S. jurisdictions to the extent permitted by U.S. Treasury Regulation Section 1.423‑2(f).
(c)
16. Transferability. Neither Contributions credited to a Participant’s account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option
or to receive shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than
by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 15 hereof) by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer,
pledge or other disposition will be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds from an
Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.
17. Use of Funds. The Company may use all Contributions received or held by it under the Plan for any corporate purpose, and the
Company will not be obligated to segregate such Contributions except under Offerings or for Participants in the Non-423 Component for
which Applicable Laws require that Contributions to the Plan by Participants be segregated from the Company’s general corporate funds
and/or deposited with an independent third party. Until shares of Common Stock are issued, Participants will have only the rights of an
unsecured creditor with respect to such shares.
18. Reports. Individual accounts will be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to
participating Eligible Employees at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of Contributions, the Purchase Price, the
number of shares of Common Stock purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.
19. Adjustments, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger, or Change in Control.
(a)
Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock,
other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off,
combination, repurchase, or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the
Company affecting the Common Stock occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential
benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust the number and class of
Common Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Purchase Price per share, the class, and the number of shares of Common Stock
covered by each option under the Plan that has not yet been exercised, and the numerical limits of Sections 7 and 13.
(b)
Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering
Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date, and will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such
proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date will be before the date of the
Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator will notify each Participant in writing or electronically, prior to the New
Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s option
will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period
as provided in Section 10 hereof.
12
(c) Merger or Change in Control. In the event of a merger or Change in Control, each outstanding option will be
assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event
that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, the Offering Period with respect to which such option relates will
be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date on which such Offering Period will end. The New Exercise Date will occur before the date of
the Company’s proposed merger or Change in Control. The Administrator will notify each Participant in writing or electronically prior to the
New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s
option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering
Period as provided in Section 10 hereof.
20. Amendment or Termination.
(a)
The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time
and for any reason. If the Plan is terminated, the Administrator, in its discretion, may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods
either immediately or upon completion of the purchase of shares of Common Stock on the next Exercise Date (which may be sooner than
originally scheduled, if determined by the Administrator in its discretion), or may elect to permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance
with their terms (and subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19). If the Offering Periods are terminated prior to expiration, all
amounts then credited to Participants’ accounts that have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock will be returned to the
Participants (without interest thereon, except as otherwise required under Applicable Laws, as further set forth in Section 12 hereof) as soon
as administratively practicable.
(b) Without stockholder consent and without limiting Section 20(a), the Administrator will be entitled to change the
Offering Periods or Purchase Periods, designate separate Offerings, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld
during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit
Contributions in excess of the amount designated by a Participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of
properly completed Contribution elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures
to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each Participant properly correspond with Contribution amounts,
and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable that are consistent with the
Plan.
In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial
accounting consequences, the Administrator may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify, amend or terminate the
Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:
(c)
amending the Plan to conform with the safe harbor definition under the Financial Accounting
Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (or any successor thereto), including with respect to an Offering Period
underway at the time;
(i)
(ii)
Purchase Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;
altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period or Purchase Period including an Offering Period or
13
Offering Period or Purchase Period underway at the time of the Administrator action;
(iii) shortening any Offering Period or Purchase Period by setting a New Exercise Date, including an
(iv)
reducing the maximum percentage of Compensation a Participant may elect to set aside as
Contributions; and
(v)
Offering Period or Purchase Period.
reducing the maximum number of shares of Common Stock a Participant may purchase during any
Such modifications or amendments will not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Participants.
21. Notices. All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan will be
deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Company at the location, or by the person,
designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
22. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares of Common Stock will not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise
of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto will comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or
foreign, including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and will be further subject to the approval
of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and
warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or
distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable
provisions of law.
23. Code Section 409A. The 423 Component of the Plan is exempt from the application of Code Section 409A and any ambiguities
herein will be interpreted to so be exempt from Code Section 409A. In furtherance of the foregoing and notwithstanding any provision in the
Plan to the contrary, if the Administrator determines that an option granted under the Plan may be subject to Code Section 409A or that any
provision in the Plan would cause an option under the Plan to be subject to Code Section 409A, the Administrator may amend the terms of
the Plan and/or of an outstanding option granted under the Plan, or take such other action the Administrator determines is necessary or
appropriate, in each case, without the Participant’s consent, to exempt any outstanding option or future option that may be granted under the
Plan from or to allow any such options to comply with Code Section 409A, but only to the extent any such amendments or action by the
Administrator would not violate Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company, and any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate
will have no liability to a Participant or any other party if the option to purchase Common Stock under the Plan that is intended to be exempt
from or compliant with Code Section 409A is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Administrator with respect thereto.
The Company makes no representation that the option to purchase Common Stock under the Plan is compliant with Code Section 409A.
24. Term of Plan. The Plan will become effective upon the later to occur of (i) its adoption by the Board or (ii) the business day
immediately prior to the Registration Date. It will continue in effect for a term of twenty (20) years, unless sooner terminated under Section
20.
14
25. Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months
after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under
Applicable Laws.
26. Governing Law. The Plan will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California (except its
choice-of-law provisions).
27. No Right to Employment. Participation in the Plan by a Participant will not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be
retained as an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate, as applicable. Further, the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate may
dismiss a Participant from employment at any time, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan.
28. Severability. If any provision of the Plan is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason in
any jurisdiction or as to any Participant, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the
Plan will be construed and enforced as to such jurisdiction or Participant as if the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had not been
included.
29. Compliance with Applicable Laws. The terms of this Plan are intended to comply with all Applicable Laws and will be
construed accordingly.
EXHIBIT A
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
15
_____ Original Application
Offering Date:
_____ Change in Payroll Deduction Rate
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
1. ____________________ (“Employee”) hereby elects to participate in the Alector, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
“Plan”) and subscribes to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock in accordance with this Subscription Agreement and the Plan.
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) shall have the same defined
meanings in this Subscription Agreement.
2. Employee hereby authorizes payroll deductions from each paycheck in the amount of ____% (from 0 to fifteen percent (15%))
of his or her Compensation on each payday during the Offering Period in accordance with the Plan. (Please note that no fractional
percentages are permitted.)
3. Employee understands that said payroll deductions will be accumulated for the purchase of shares of Common Stock at the
applicable Purchase Price determined in accordance with the Plan. Employee understands that if he or she does not withdraw from an
Offering Period, any accumulated payroll deductions will be used to automatically exercise his or her option and purchase Common Stock
under the Plan.
4. Employee has received a copy of the complete Plan and its accompanying prospectus. Employee understands that his or her
participation in the Plan is in all respects subject to the terms of the Plan.
5. Shares of Common Stock purchased by Employee under the Plan should be issued in the name(s) of _____________ (Employee
or Employee and Spouse only).
6. Employee understands that if he or she disposes of any shares that he or she purchased under the Plan within two (2) years after
the Enrollment Date (the first day of the Offering Period during which he or she purchased such shares) or one (1) year after the applicable
Exercise Date, he or she will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received ordinary income at the time of such disposition in
an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time such shares were purchased over the price paid for the shares.
Employee hereby agrees to notify the Company in writing within thirty (30) days after the date of any disposition of such shares and to make
adequate provision for federal, state or other tax withholding obligations, if any, that arise upon the disposition of such shares. The Company
may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from Employee’s compensation the amount necessary to meet any applicable withholding
obligation including any withholding necessary to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to Employee’s
sale or early disposition of such shares. Employee understands that if he or she disposes of such shares at any time after the expiration of the
two (2)-year and one‑(1) year holding periods, he or she will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received income only at the
time of such disposition, and that such income will be taxed as ordinary income only to the extent of an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the
excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of such disposition over the purchase price paid for the shares, or (ii) fifteen percent
(15%) of the fair market value of the shares on the first day of the Offering Period. The remainder of the gain, if any, recognized on such
disposition will be taxed as capital gain.
7. Employee hereby agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan. The effectiveness of this Subscription Agreement is dependent
upon Employee’s eligibility to participate in the Plan.
16
Employee’s [Social
Security Number]:
Employee’s Address:
EMPLOYEE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT
SUCCESSIVE OFFERING PERIODS UNLESS TERMINATED BY EMPLOYEE.
Dated: ______________________________ _________________________________
Signature of Employee
EXHIBIT B
ALECTOR, INC.
2019 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL
17
Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) shall have the same defined
meanings in this Notice of Withdrawal.
The undersigned Participant in the Offering Period of the Alector, Inc. 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan that began on ____________,
______ (the “Offering Date”) hereby notifies the Company that he or she hereby withdraws from the Offering Period. He or she hereby
directs the Company to pay to the undersigned as promptly as practicable all the payroll deductions credited to his or her account with respect
to such Offering Period. The undersigned understands and agrees that his or her option for such Offering Period will be terminated
automatically. The undersigned understands further that no further payroll deductions will be made for the purchase of shares in the current
Offering Period and the undersigned will be eligible to participate in succeeding Offering Periods only by delivering to the Company a new
Subscription Agreement.
Name and Address of Participant:
_______________
_______________
_______________
Signature:
_____________________________
Date:
______________________
18
ALECTOR, INC.
OUTSIDE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY
(As amended on December 5, 2023)
Exhibit 10.11
Alector, Inc. (the “Company”) believes that providing cash and equity compensation to members of its Board of
Directors (the “Board,” and members of the Board, the “Directors”) represents an effective tool to attract, retain and reward
Directors who are not employees of the Company (the “Outside Directors”). This Outside Director Compensation Policy (the
“Policy”) formalizes the Company’s policy regarding cash compensation and grants of equity awards to its Outside Directors.
Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Policy will have the meaning given such term in the Company’s
2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), or if the Plan is no longer in use at the time of an equity
award, the meaning given such term or any similar term in the equity plan then in place under which such equity award is
granted. Each Outside Director will be solely responsible for any tax obligations incurred by such Outside Director as a result of
the equity and cash payments such Outside Director receives under this Policy.
Subject to Section 9, this Policy will be effective as of the effective date of the registration statement in connection with
the initial public offering of the Company’s securities (the “Registration Statement”) (such date, the “Effective Date”).
1. CASH COMPENSATION
Annual Cash Retainer
Each Outside Director will be paid an annual cash retainer of $45,000. There are no per‑meeting attendance fees for
Board meetings.
Committee Annual Cash Retainer
As of the Effective Date, each Outside Director who serves as the chairman of the Board, the lead Outside Director, or
the chair or a member of a committee of the Board will be eligible to earn additional annual fees as follows:
Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board:
Lead Independent Director:
Chairperson of Audit Committee:
Member of Audit Committee:
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$10,000
Chairperson of Compensation Committee:
Member of Compensation Committee:
Chairperson of Nominating and Governance Committee:
Member of Nominating and Governance Committee:
$15,000
$7,500
$10,000
$5,000
For clarity, each Outside Director who serves as the chairperson of a committee will receive only the annual fee as the
chairperson of the committee and will not also receive the additional annual fee as a member of the committee.
Payment
Each annual cash retainer under this Policy will be paid quarterly in arrears on a prorated basis to each Outside Director
who has served in the relevant capacity at any point during the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, and such payment shall be
made no later than 30 days following the end of such immediately preceding fiscal quarter. For purposes of clarification, an
Outside Director who has served as an Outside Director, as a member of an applicable committee (or chairperson thereof) during
only a portion of the relevant Company fiscal quarter will receive a pro-rated payment of the quarterly payment of the applicable
annual cash retainer(s), calculated based on the number of days during such fiscal quarter such Outside Director has served in the
relevant capacities. For purposes of clarification, an Outside Director who has served as an Outside Director, as a member of an
applicable committee (or chairperson thereof), as applicable, from the Effective Date through the end of the fiscal quarter
containing the Effective Date (the “Initial Period”) will receive a prorated payment of the quarterly payment of the applicable
annual cash retainer(s), calculated based on the number of days during the Initial Period that such Outside Director has served in
the relevant capacities.
2. EQUITY COMPENSATION
In addition to the annual cash retainers described above, Outside Directors will be eligible to receive all types of Awards
(except Incentive Stock Options, Performance Units or Performance Shares) under the Plan (or the applicable equity plan in place
at the time of grant), including discretionary Awards not covered under this Policy. All grants of Awards to Outside Directors
pursuant to this Section of the Policy will be automatic and nondiscretionary, except as otherwise provided herein, and will be
made in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) No Discretion. No person will have any discretion to select which Outside Directors will be granted any Awards
under this Policy or to determine the number of Shares to be covered by such Awards.
(b) Initial Award. Subject to Section 11 of the Plan, each individual who first becomes an Outside Director following
the Effective Date will be granted a nonstatutory stock option to purchase 19,420 Shares (the “Initial Option Award”) and
41,250 restricted stock units (the
“Initial RSU Award” and together with the Initial Option Award, the “Initial Award”). The Initial Award will be made on the
first trading date on or after the date on which such individual first becomes an Outside Director, whether through election by the
stockholders of the Company or appointment by the Board to fill a vacancy. If an individual was a member of the Board and also
an employee, becoming an Outside Director due to termination of employment will not entitle the Outside Director to an Initial
Award. Each Initial Option Award will vest as to 1/48th of the Shares subject to the Initial Option Award on the one-month
anniversary of the date the applicable Outside Director’s service as an Outside Director commenced and as to 1/48th of the Shares
subject to the Initial Option Award each month thereafter, in each case subject to the Outside Director continuing to be a Service
Provider through the applicable vesting date. Each Initial RSU Award will vest as to one-twelfth (1/12th) of the Shares subject to
the Initial RSU Award on the first Quarterly Vesting Date (as defined below) that occurs on or following the date that is three (3)
months after the date the applicable Outside Director’s service as an Outside Director commenced, and as to one-twelfth (1/12th)
of the Shares on each Quarterly Vesting Date thereafter, in each case subject to the Outside Director continuing to be a Service
Provider through the applicable Quarterly Vesting Date. “Quarterly Vesting Date” means each of March 1, June 1, September 1,
and December 1. Each Initial Option Award and Initial RSU Award will become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior
to a Change in Control, subject to the Outside Director continuing to be a Service Provider at the time of the Change in Control.
(c) Annual Award. Subject to Section 11 of the Plan, on the date of each annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders
following the Effective Date (each, an “Annual Meeting”), each Outside Director who, as of such annual meeting date, has
served on the Board as a director for at least the preceding six months will be automatically granted a nonstatutory stock option to
purchase 12,360 Shares (the “Annual Option Award”), and 26,250 restricted stock units (the “Annual RSU Award” and
together with the Annual Option Award, the “Annual Award”).
Each Annual Option Award will vest as to one-twelfth (1/12th) of the Shares subject to the Annual Option Award on the
one-month anniversary of the date the Annual Option Award is granted and as to one-twelfth (1/12th) of the Shares subject to the
Annual Option Award each month thereafter, provided that the Annual Option Award will vest in full on the earlier of (i) the one-
year anniversary of the date of grant, or (ii) the date of the next regularly scheduled Annual Meeting, in each case subject to the
Outside Director continuing to be a Service Provider through the applicable vesting date. Each Annual Option Award will
become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to a Change in Control, subject to the Outside Director continuing to be a
Service Provider.
Each Annual RSU Award will vest in full on the earlier of (i) the one-year anniversary of the date of grant, or (ii) the
date of the next regularly scheduled Annual Meeting, in each case subject to the Outside Director continuing to be a Service
Provider through the applicable vesting date. Each Annual RSU Award will become fully vested and exercisable immediately
prior to a Change in Control, subject to the Outside Director continuing to be a Service Provider.
(d) Additional Terms of Initial Option Awards and Annual Option Awards. The terms and conditions of each Initial
Option Award and Annual Option Award will be as follows:
(i) The term of each Initial Option Award and Annual Option Award will be ten years, subject to earlier
termination as provided in the Plan.
(ii) Each Initial Option Award and Annual Option Award will have an exercise price per Share equal to 100%
of the Fair Market Value per Share on the grant date.
(e) Value. For purposes of this Policy, “Value” means the grant date fair value (determined in accordance with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles), or such other methodology the Board may determine prior to the grant of the Initial
Option or Annual Award becoming effective, as applicable.
3. CHANGE IN CONTROL
In the event of a Change in Control, each Outside Director will fully vest in his or her outstanding Company equity
awards, including any Initial Award or Annual Award, provided that the Outside Director continues to be an Outside Director
through such date.
4. ANNUAL COMPENSATION LIMIT
No Outside Director may be paid, issued or granted, in any fiscal year, cash compensation and Awards with an aggregate
value greater than $750,000, increased to $1,000,000 in the fiscal year of his or her initial service as an Outside Director (with the
value of each Award based on its Grant Value for purposes of the limitation under this Section 4). Any cash compensation paid
or Awards granted to an individual for his or her services as an Employee, or for his or her services as a Consultant (other than as
an Outside Director), will not count for purposes of the limitation under this Section 4.
5. TRAVEL EXPENSES
Each Outside Director’s reasonable, customary and documented travel expenses to Board meetings will be reimbursed
by the Company.
6. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
All provisions of the Plan not inconsistent with this Policy will apply to Awards granted to Outside Directors.
7. ADJUSTMENTS
In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other
property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination,
repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company
affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits
intended to be made available under this Policy, will adjust the number of Shares issuable pursuant to Awards granted under this
Policy.
8. SECTION 409A
In no event will cash compensation or expense reimbursement payments under this Policy be paid after the later of (i) the
15th day of the 3rd month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the compensation is earned or expenses are
incurred, as applicable, or (ii) the 15th day of the 3rd month following the end of the calendar year in which the compensation is
earned or expenses are incurred, as applicable, in compliance with the “short-term deferral” exception under Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the final regulations and guidance thereunder, as may be amended from time to
time (together, “Section 409A”). It is the intent of this Policy that this Policy and all payments hereunder be exempt from or
otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that none of the compensation to be provided hereunder will be
subject to the additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities or ambiguous terms herein will be interpreted to
be so exempt or comply. In no event will the Company reimburse an Outside Director for any taxes imposed or other costs
incurred as a result of Section 409A.
9. REVISIONS
The Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate this Policy at any time and for any reason. No amendment, alteration,
suspension or termination of this Policy will materially impair the rights of an Outside Director with respect to compensation that
already has been paid or awarded, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the Outside Director and the Company.
Termination of this Policy will not affect the Board’s or the Compensation Committee’s ability to exercise the powers granted to
it under the Plan with respect to Awards granted under the Plan pursuant to this Policy prior to the date of such termination.
ALECTOR, INC. INSIDER TRADING
POLICY
(As amended on March 2023)
Exhibit 19
A.
INTRODUCTION AND POLICY OVERVIEW
Alector, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, collectively the “Company”) has adopted this Insider Trading Policy (the “Policy”)
to help you comply with the federal and state securities laws and regulations that govern trading in securities and to help the Company
minimize its own legal and reputational risk.
Insider Trading Prohibited
The securities laws prohibit “insider trading.” As described below, this generally refers to trading securities (including the
Company’s and other companies’ stock) “on the basis of” material nonpublic information (as defined below). Transactions will be
considered to be “on the basis of” material nonpublic information if the person engaging in the transaction was aware of the material
nonpublic information at the time of the transaction. It is not a defense that the person did not “use” the information for the purposes of
the transaction.
Insider trading also includes “tipping,” when someone directly or indirectly discloses material nonpublic information to others
who then trade based on that information or when someone makes recommendations or expresses opinions about transactions while
aware of material nonpublic information. Both the person providing, and the person trading on, the information, recommendation or
opinion may be liable for insider trading.
Insider trading is illegal and a violation of this Policy. Your violation of the law could expose you, the Company, members of the
Company’s Board of Directors, and the Company’s officers and supervisory personnel to civil or criminal liability.
Detection and Prosecution of Insider Trading
Sophisticated surveillance techniques are used to detect and investigate insider trading. The Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) and the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) aggressively pursue insider trading violations. In addition to
cases against individuals trading on their own behalf, the SEC and DOJ have successfully brought cases involving trading through foreign
accounts, trading by family members and friends, trading only a small number of shares, and tipping (even where the person disclosing
the information or recommending the transaction did not benefit from the other person’s trading).
Even the appearance of insider trading can lead to government investigations or lawsuits that are time-consuming and
expensive and can result in criminal and civil liability, including damages and fines, imprisonment and bars on serving as an officer or
director of a public company, not to mention irreparable damage to both your and the Company’s reputation.
Trading Compliance Officers
For purposes of this Policy, the Company’s General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer serve as the Trading Compliance
Officers and are generally responsible for administration of this Policy. Please direct any questions to them or their designees.
Your Responsibility
It is your responsibility to understand and follow this Policy and the securities laws and regulations. You should consult with
your legal and financial advisors as needed. A violation of insider trading laws can result in severe consequences.
As set forth in more detail below: when you have material nonpublic information about the Company, you may not trade in the
Company’s securities, disclose material nonpublic information to others who trade in the Company’s securities, or recommend/express
opinions on transactions in the Company’s securities; and when you have material nonpublic information about another company learned
through your role at the Company, you may not trade in the securities of that other company.
In addition, you must comply with this Policy as to when and how you may trade. As described in more detail below, to reduce
the risks of insider trading, the Company has established requirements and restrictions involving your trading, based on your role:
•
•
Employees at the level of Vice President or above, and other employees as may be designated by the Trading Compliance
Officers from time to time, may only trade in the Company’s securities in accordance with a 10b5-1 Trading Plan.
Other employees may trade in the Company’s securities (a) in accordance with a 10b5-1 Trading Plan or (b) if an employee
has not established a 10b5-1 Trading Plan, at any time (i) when not in possession of material nonpublic information and (ii)
not subject to a blackout period. An employee who has established a 10b5-1 Trading Plan cannot trade outside of that plan.
• Members of the Company’s Board of Directors are encouraged to establish a 10b5-1 Trading Plan and may only trade in the
Company’s securities (a) in accordance with a 10b5-1 Trading Plan or (b) in accordance with the preclearance procedures
set forth below.
B. PERSONS AND TRANSACTIONS COVERED BY THIS POLICY
Persons Covered by This Policy
This Policy applies to you if you are a director, officer, employee, consultant, contractor or advisor of the Company. This Policy
also covers your immediate family members, persons with whom you share a household, persons who are your economic dependents and
any entity whose transactions in securities you influence, direct or control (including, for example, a venture fund or other investment
fund, if you influence, direct or control transactions by the fund). References in this policy to “you” should also be understood to include
those other individuals and entities. You are responsible for making sure that these other individuals and entities comply with this Policy.
This Policy continues to apply even if you leave the Company or are otherwise no longer affiliated with or providing services to
the Company, for as long as you continue to possess material nonpublic information. In addition, if you are subject to a trading blackout
under this Policy at the time you leave the Company, you must abide by the applicable trading restrictions until at least the end of the
relevant blackout period.
Types of Transactions Covered by This Policy
Except as discussed below, this Policy applies to all transactions involving the securities of the Company or other companies for
which you possess material nonpublic information obtained in connection with your service with the Company. This Policy therefore
applies to:
2
1.
2.
3.
4.
any purchase, sale, loan or other transfer or disposition of any equity securities (including common stock, options,
restricted stock units, warrants and preferred stock) and debt securities (including debentures, bonds and notes) of the
Company and such other companies, whether direct or indirect (including transactions made on your behalf by money
managers), and any offer to engage in the foregoing transactions;
any disposition in the form of a gift of any securities of the Company;
any distribution to holders of interests in an entity if the entity is subject to this Policy; and
any other permitted arrangement that generates gains or losses from or based on changes in the prices of such securities
and any offer to engage in such transactions.
As described in more detail below, you may not engage in transactions involving trading in derivative securities (for example,
exchange-traded put or call options, swaps, caps and collars, hedging and pledging transactions, short sales and certain arrangements
regarding participation in benefit plans, and any offer to engage in the foregoing transactions with respect to the Company’s securities.
There are no exceptions from insider trading laws or this Policy based on the size of the transaction or the amount or type of
value you obtain in the transaction.
C. MATERIAL NONPUBLIC INFORMATION; TRADING RESTRICTIONS
Material Nonpublic Information
Material Information
It is not possible to define all categories of “material information.” That said, information should be regarded as material if there
is a reasonable likelihood that an investor (a) would consider the information to be important in making a decision to buy, sell or hold the
Company’s securities or (b) would view the information as significantly altering the total mix of information in the marketplace about the
Company. In general, any information that could reasonably be expected to affect the price of the Company’s securities is likely to be
material. Either positive or negative information may be material.
While it may be difficult under this standard to determine whether particular information is material, there are various categories
of information that are particularly sensitive and, as a general rule, should always be considered material. Examples of such information
may include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Financial results
Projections of future earnings or losses
Significant clinical or regulatory developments
Significant developments in research and development or relating to intellectual property
Gain or loss of a substantial customer, supplier, vendor or partner
New product announcements of a significant nature
Significant product defects or modifications
Significant changes in business plans, budgets or relationships
Major personnel changes, such as changes in senior management
Changes in independent auditors or notification that the Company may no longer rely on an audit report
3
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
New equity or debt offerings, stock splits and other major events involving the Company’s securities
Significant corporate events, such as a pending or proposed merger, joint venture or tender offer, a
significant investment, the acquisition or disposition of a significant business or asset or a change in control
of the Company
Creation of significant financial obligations
Updates regarding any prior material disclosure that has materially changed
The existence of a special blackout period
Data breaches or other cybersecurity events
Significant pricing changes
Significant litigation exposure due to actual or threatened litigation
News of the disposition of a subsidiary
Impending bankruptcy or financial liquidity problems
Changes in dividend policy
.
Material nonpublic information
“Material nonpublic information” means material information that is not generally known or made available to the public. Even
if information is widely known throughout the Company, it may still be nonpublic. Generally, in order for information to be considered
public, it must be made generally available through media outlets or SEC filings. After the release of information, a reasonable period of
time must elapse in order to provide the public an opportunity to absorb and evaluate the information provided. As a general rule, at least
two full trading days must pass after the dissemination of information before such information is considered public.
As a rule of thumb, if you think something might be material nonpublic information, it probably is. You can always reach out to
the Trading Compliance Officers if you have questions as to what constitutes material nonpublic information.
No Trading on Material Nonpublic Information
You may not, directly or through others, engage in any transaction involving the Company’s securities while you are aware of
material nonpublic information relating to the Company. It is not an excuse that you did not “use” the information in your transaction. If
you are in possession of material nonpublic information about the Company, you may not:
a.
b.
c.
d.
use it to transact in securities of the Company;
disclose it to other employees, consultants, contractors, advisors, officers or directors whose roles do not require
them to have the information;
disclose it to anyone outside of the Company, including family, friends, business associates (including entities
under contracts with the Company), investors or consulting firms, without prior written authorization from the
General Counsel; or
use it to express an opinion or make a recommendation about trading in the Company’s securities.
4
In addition, material nonpublic information about another company that you learn through your service with the Company is
subject to these same restrictions around disclosure and trading, and you cannot use that information to trade securities. Any such action
will be deemed a violation of this Policy.
No Disclosure of Confidential Information
You may not at any time disclose material nonpublic information about the Company or about another company that you
obtained in connection with your service with the Company to friends, family members or any other person or entity that the Company
has not authorized to know such information. You must continue to comply with all agreements you have with the Company, e.g., for
employees, the At Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement, and for others, the
agreement(s) governing your relationship with the Company. In addition, you must handle the confidential information of others in
accordance with any agreements and other obligations that the Company has with them, including any obligations of confidentiality and
non-use under a confidentiality, master services or other agreement.
If you receive an inquiry for information from someone outside of the Company, such as a stock analyst, or a request for
sensitive information outside the ordinary course of business from someone outside of the Company, such as a business partner, vendor,
supplier or salesperson, then you should refer the inquiry to the Trading Compliance Officers. Responding to a request yourself may
violate this Policy and, in some circumstances, the law. Please consult the Company’s External Communications Policy for more details.
D. TRADING: WHEN AND HOW TRADING IS PERMITTED AND RESTRICTED
In addition to the above prohibitions on insider trading, you are also subject to trading restrictions that the Company has
implemented to reduce the risk of insider trading. As described below, these restrictions affect when and how you may trade and depend
on your role at the Company.
10b5-1 Trading Plans
A 10b5-1 Trading Plan is a written plan for engaging in transactions in the Company’s securities that (a) is made by an
individual when not in possession of material nonpublic information and (b) meets all of the requirements established by the SEC.
Transactions made pursuant to a properly established 10b5- 1 Trading Plan are not subject to the prohibitions on trading while aware of
material nonpublic information or during blackout periods or the preclearance procedures under this Policy.
VPs or Above and Other Employees Designated by Trading Compliance Officers: Employees at the level of Vice President or
above may only trade in the Company’s securities in accordance with a 10b5-1 Trading Plan. Additionally, the Trading
Compliance Officers may designate other employees from time to time who may only trade in the Company’s securities in
accordance with a 10b5-1 Trading Plan. For avoidance of doubt, these individuals may not trade in the Company’s securities
outside of a 10b5-1 Trading Plan, even when not subject to a blackout period.
Other Employees: Employees at levels below Vice President may trade in the Company’s securities in accordance with a 10b5-1
Trading Plan. If an employee has not established a 10b5-1 Trading Plan, then he or she may trade in the Company’s securities (i)
when not in possession of material nonpublic information, and (ii) not subject to a blackout period. If an employee has
established a 10b5-1 Trading Plan, he or she may not trade in the Company’s securities outside of such 10b5-1 Trading Plan.
5
Board of Directors. Members of the Company’s Board of Directors are encouraged to establish and only trade in the Company’s
securities in accordance with 10b5-1 Trading Plans. Members of the Board of Directors may also trade in the Company’s
securities if they obtain preclearance in accordance with the procedures set forth below.
10b5-1 Trading Plans may only be established or modified outside of a blackout period and when the individual is not in
possession of material nonpublic information. All proposed 10b5-1 Trading Plans must be approved by the Trading Compliance Officers
or their designees, as appropriate, and must comply with the requirements set forth in the Requirements for 10b5-1 Trading Plans,
attached as Exhibit A. If one of the Trading Compliance Officers is the requester, then either (a) the other Trading Compliance Officer or
(b) Company’s Chief Executive Officer or their delegate (other than the requesting Trading Compliance Officer) must approve the 10b5-1
Trading Plan.
The SEC requirements for 10b5-1 Trading Plans are complex and must be strictly complied with.
If you have any questions, please consult with your personal legal or financial advisor.
Blackout Periods
Individuals who are not required to have 10b5-1 Trading Plans and who choose not to adopt a 10b5- 1 Trading Plan may only
trade when (a) they do not possess material nonpublic information and (b) they are not subject to a blackout period. To the extent
applicable to you, blackout periods also cover your immediate family members, persons with whom you share a household, persons who
are your economic dependents and any entity whose transactions in securities you influence, direct or control.
The prohibition against trading during the blackout period also means that brokers cannot fulfill open orders on your behalf or
on behalf of your immediate family members, persons with whom you share a household, persons who are your economic dependents or
any entity whose transactions in securities you influence, direct or control, during the blackout period, including “limit orders” to buy or
sell stock at a specific price or better and “stop orders” to buy or sell stock once the price of the stock reaches a specified price. As a
result, open orders should be cancelled prior to entering a blackout window. Failure to cancel before a blackout window may result in the
execution of a trade at a time when you are aware of material nonpublic information or are otherwise not permitted to trade in the
Company’s securities and therefore may also result in inadvertent insider trading violations. If you are subject to blackout periods, at the
time you place an open order, you should inform the broker that you are subject to blackout periods to address this issue.
Note that even when a blackout period is not in effect, you may be prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the
Company’s securities because you possess material nonpublic information.
Quarterly Blackout Periods
Quarterly blackout periods will start at the end of the fifth to last trading day of each fiscal quarter and will end at the start of the
second full trading day following the Company’s earnings release.
Special Blackout Periods.
Either of the Trading Compliance Officers may decide to impose additional or longer trading blackout periods at any time on
any or all of its directors, officers, employees, consultants, contractors and advisors. You will be notified by the General Counsel or his or
her designee if you are subject to a special blackout period in writing or via email. If you are notified that you are subject to a special
blackout period, you may not engage in any transaction involving Company’s securities until the special blackout period has
6
ended other than the transactions that are covered by the exceptions below. You also may not disclose to anyone else that the Company has
imposed a special blackout period.
Regulation BTR Blackouts.
Directors and officers may also be subject to trading blackouts pursuant to Regulation Blackout Trading Restriction
(“Regulation BTR”) under U.S. federal securities laws. In general, Regulation BTR prohibits any director or officer from engaging in
certain transactions involving the Company’s securities during periods when 401(k) plan participants are prevented from purchasing,
selling or otherwise acquiring or transferring an interest in certain securities held in individual account plans. Any profits realized from a
transaction that violates Regulation BTR are recoverable by the Company, regardless of the intentions of the director or officer effecting
the transaction. In addition, individuals who engage in such transactions are subject to sanction by the SEC as well as potential criminal
liability. The Company will notify directors and officers if they are subject to a blackout trading restriction under Regulation BTR. Failure
to comply with an applicable trading blackout in accordance with Regulation BTR is a violation of the law and this Policy.
Pre-clearance of Trades
The Company encourages members of its Board of Directors to establish 10b5-1 Trading Plans. Members of the Company’s
Board of Directors who do not have a 10b5-1 Trading Plan in place must obtain pre-clearance prior to trading the Company’s securities. If
you are subject to pre-clearance requirements, you must submit a pre-clearance request to the Trading Compliance Officers prior to your
desired trade date on the form provided by the Trading Compliance Officers. The person requesting pre-clearance will be required to
certify that he or she is not in possession of material nonpublic information about the Company and provide other information requested
by the Trading Compliance Officers. The Trading Compliance Officers are under no obligation to approve a transaction submitted for pre-
clearance and may decide not to permit the transaction.
All trades must be executed within five business days of any pre-clearance.
Even after preclearance, a person may not trade in the Company’s securities if they become aware of material nonpublic
information prior to the trade being executed.
From time to time, the Company may identify other persons who should be subject to the pre- clearance requirements set forth
above, and the Trading Compliance Officers may update and revise the requirements as appropriate.
E. PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS
You may not engage in any of the following types of transactions, other than as noted below in Section F (Limited Exceptions to
Trading Restrictions), regardless of whether you have material nonpublic information or not.
1.Short Sales. You may not engage in short sales (meaning the sale of a security that must be borrowed to make delivery) or
“sell short against the box” (meaning the sale of a security with a delayed delivery) if such sales involve the Company’s
securities.
2.Derivative Securities and Hedging Transactions. You may not, directly or indirectly, (a) trade in publicly-traded options, such
as puts and calls, and other derivative securities with respect to the Company’s securities (other than stock options, restricted
stock units and other compensatory
7
awards issued to you by the Company) or (b) purchase financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts,
equity swaps, collars and exchange funds), or otherwise engage in transactions, that hedge or offset, or are designed to hedge or
offset, any decrease in the market value of Company equity securities either (i) granted to you by the Company as part of your
compensation or (ii) held, directly or indirectly, by you.
3.
4.
Pledging Transactions. You may not pledge the Company’s securities as collateral for any loan or as part of any other
pledging transaction.
Margin Accounts. You may not hold the Company’s common stock in margin accounts.
F. LIMITED EXCEPTIONS TO TRADING RESTRICTIONS
There are no unconditional “safe harbors” for trades made at particular times, and all persons subject to this Policy should
exercise good judgment at all times. Even when a quarterly blackout period is not in effect, you may be prohibited from engaging in
transactions involving the Company’s securities because you possess material nonpublic information, are subject to a special blackout
period or are otherwise restricted under this Policy.
The following are certain limited exceptions to the quarterly and special blackout period restrictions and pre-clearance
requirements imposed by the Company under this Policy:
1.stock option exercises where the exercise price is paid in cash and there is no other associated market activity (e.g., no sale of
the stock after exercise; “exercise and hold”);
2.purchases pursuant to the employee stock purchase plan; however, this exception does not apply to subsequent sales of the
shares;
3.receipt and vesting of stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock or other equity compensation awards from the
Company, provided that this exception does not apply to subsequent sales of the shares;
4.net share withholding with respect to equity awards where shares are withheld by the Company in order to satisfy tax
withholding requirements, (x) as required by either the Company’s Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) or the award
agreement governing such equity award or (y) as you elect, if permitted by the Company, so long as the election is irrevocable
and made in writing at a time when a trading blackout is not in place and you are not in possession of material nonpublic
information;
5.sell to cover transactions where shares are sold on your behalf upon vesting of equity awards and sold in order to satisfy tax
withholding requirements, (x) as required by either the Company’s Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) or the award
agreement governing such equity award or (y) as you elect, if permitted by the Company, so long as the election is irrevocable
and made in writing at a time when a trading blackout is not in place and you are not in possession of material nonpublic
information; however, this exception does not apply to any other market sale for the purposes of paying required withholding;
6.transactions made pursuant to a valid 10b5-1 trading plan approved by the Company (see Section I (10b5-1 Trading Plans)
below);
7.transfers by will or the laws of descent or distribution and, provided that prior written notice is provided to the Trading
Compliance Officers, distributions or transfers (such as certain
8
tax planning or estate planning transfers) that effect only a change in the form of beneficial interest without changing your
pecuniary interest in the Company’s securities; and
8.changes in the number of the Company’s securities you hold due to a stock split or a stock dividend that applies equally to all
securities of a class, or similar transactions.
If there is a Regulation BTR blackout (and no quarterly or special blackout period), then the limited exceptions set forth in
Regulation BTR will apply. Please be aware that even if a transaction is subject to an exception to this Policy, you will need to separately
assess whether the transaction complies with applicable law. Any other Policy exceptions must be approved by the Trading Compliance
Officers, in consultation with the Company’s Board of Directors or an independent committee of the Board of Directors.
G. SECTION 16 COMPLIANCE
All of the Company’s executive officers and directors and certain other individuals are required to comply with Section 16 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and related rules and regulations. To ensure timely reporting of transactions subject to Section 16,
each person subject to these requirements must provide or must ensure that his or her broker provides the Company with detailed
information (for example, trade date, number of shares, exact price, etc.) about his or her transactions involving the Company’s securities,
including gifts, transfers, pledges and transactions pursuant to a 10b5-Trading Plan, by no later than the end of the business day in which
the transaction takes place.
The Company is available to assist in filing Section 16 reports, but the obligation to comply with Section 16 is personal. If you
have any questions, you should check with the Trading Compliance Officers.
H. VIOLATIONS OF THIS POLICY
Company directors, officers, employees, consultants, contractors and advisors who violate this Policy will be subject to
disciplinary action by the Company, including ineligibility for future Company equity or incentive programs or termination of
employment or an ongoing relationship with the Company. The Company has full discretion to determine whether this Policy has been
violated based on the information available.
There are also serious legal consequences for individuals who violate insider trading laws, including large criminal and civil
fines, significant imprisonment terms and disgorgement of any profits gained or losses avoided. You may also be liable for improper
securities trading by any person to whom you have disclosed material nonpublic information that you have learned through your position
at the Company or made recommendations or expressed opinions about securities trading on the basis of such information.
Please consult with your personal legal and financial advisors as needed. Note that the Company’s legal counsel, both internal
and external, represent the Company and not you personally.
There may be instances where you suffer financial harm or other hardship or are otherwise required to forego a planned
transaction because of the restrictions imposed by this Policy or under securities laws. If you were aware of the material nonpublic
information at the time of the trade, it is not a defense that you did not “use” the information for the trade. Personal financial emergency
or other personal circumstances are not mitigating factors under securities laws and will not excuse your failure to comply with this
Policy.
9
In addition, a blackout period will not extend the term of your options. As a consequence, you may be prevented from exercising
your options by this Policy or as a result of a blackout or other restriction on your trading, and as a result your options may expire by their
term. It is your responsibility to manage your economic interests and to consider potential trading restrictions when determining whether
to exercise your options. In such instances, the Company cannot extend the term of your options and has no obligation or liability to
replace the economic value or lost benefit to you.
I.
PROTECTED ACTIVITY NOT PROHIBITED
Nothing in this Policy, or any related guidelines or other documents or information provided in connection with this Policy, shall
in any way limit or prohibit you from engaging in any of the protected activities set forth in the Company’s Compliance Procedures, as
amended from time to time.
J. REPORTING
If you believe someone is violating this Policy or otherwise using material nonpublic information that they learned through their
position at the Company to trade securities, you should report it to the Trading Compliance Officers, or if a Trading Compliance Officer
is implicated in your report, then you should report it in accordance with the Company’s Compliance Procedures.
K. AMENDMENTS
The Company reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time, for any reason, subject to applicable laws, rules and
regulations, and with or without notice, although it will attempt to provide notice in advance of any change. Unless otherwise permitted
by this Policy, any amendments must be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.
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EXHIBIT A
REQUIREMENTS FOR 10B5-1 TRADING PLANS
For transactions under a trading plan to be exempt from (A) the prohibitions in the Company’s Insider Trading Policy (the
“Policy”) of Alector, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, collectively the “Company”) with respect to transactions made while aware of
material nonpublic information and (B) the pre-clearance procedures and blackout periods established under the Policy, the trading plan
must comply with the affirmative defense set forth in Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1 and must meet the following requirements:
1.
2.
a.
b.
The trading plan must be in writing and signed by the person adopting the trading plan.
The trading plan must be adopted at a time when:
the person adopting the trading plan is not aware of any material nonpublic information; and
there is no quarterly, special or other trading blackout in effect with respect to the person adopting the plan.
3.The trading plan must be entered in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1,
and the person adopting the trading plan must act in good faith with respect to the trading plan.
4.The trading plan must include representations that, on the date of adoption of the trading plan, the person adopting the trading
plan:
•
•
is not aware of material nonpublic information about the securities or the Company; and
is adopting the trading plan in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1.
5.The person adopting the trading plan may not have entered into or altered a corresponding or hedging transaction or position
with respect to the securities subject to the trading plan and must agree not to enter into any such transaction while the trading plan is in
effect.
6.The first trade under the trading plan for directors and officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) may not occur until the expiration of a cooling-off period consisting of the later of (a) 90 calendar days after the adoption of the
trading plan and (b) two business days after the filing by the Company of its financial results in a Form 10-Q or Form 10-K for the
completed fiscal quarter in which the trading plan was adopted (but, in any event, this required cooling-off period is subject to a
maximum of 120 days after adoption of the trading plan). The first trade under the trading plan for all other persons (other than the
Company) may not occur until the expiration of a cooling-off period that is 30 calendar days after adoption of the trading plan.
7.The trading plan must have a minimum term of one year (starting from the date of adoption of the trading plan).
8.All transactions during the term of the trading plan (except for the “Exceptions to Trading Restrictions” identified in the
Policy and bona fide gifts) must be conducted through the trading plan. In addition, the person adopting the trading plan may not have an
outstanding (and may not subsequently enter into any additional) trading plan, except that a trading plan may be adopted if it will not take
effect until
the outstanding trading plan has expired (i.e., the adopted trading plan and outstanding trading plan overlap solely to the extent of the
adopted trading plan’s cooling off period).
9.Any modification or change to the amount, price or timing of transactions under the trading plan is deemed the termination of
the trading plan, and the adoption of a new trading plan (“Modification”). Therefore, a Modification is subject to the same conditions as
a new trading plan as set forth in Sections 1 through 8 herein.
10.Within the six months preceding the adoption or a Modification of a trading plan, a person may not have otherwise adopted
or done a Modification to a plan more than once.
11.
All 10b5-1 Trading Plans require a minimum of two orders.
12.If the person that adopted the trading plan terminates the plan prior to its stated duration, he or she may not trade in the
Company’s securities until after the expiration of 30 calendar days following termination, and then only in accordance with the Policy.
13.The Company must be promptly notified of any Modification or termination of the trading plan, including any suspension of
trading under the trading plan.
14.The Company must have authority to require the suspension or cancellation of the trading plan at any time.
15.If the trading plan grants discretion to a stockbroker or other person with respect to the execution of trades under the trading
plan:
a.
b.
c.
trades made under the trading plan must be executed by someone other than the stockbroker or other person that
executes trades in other securities for the person adopting the trading plan;
the person adopting the trading plan may not confer with the person administering the trading plan regarding the
Company or its securities; and
the person administering the trading plan must provide prompt notice to the Company of the execution of a
transaction pursuant to the plan.
16.
All transactions under the trading plan must be in accordance with applicable law.
17.The trading plan (including any Modification) must meet such other requirements as the Trading Compliance Officers may
determine.
18.Any trading plans adopted or modified prior to February 27, 2023 are permitted to continue in place until all trades are
executed thereunder or they expire by their terms (“Prior Plans”). If the person undertakes a Modification of a Prior Plan, then the
Modification must meet all of the above requirements.
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements:
(1) Registration Statement (Forms S-3 No. 333-238230 and No. 333-270126) of Alector, Inc.,
(2) Registration Statement (Forms S-8 No. 333-237369, No. 333-253524, No. 333-262990 and No. 333-270111) pertaining to the 2019
Equity Incentive Plan and 2019 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of Alector, Inc., and
(3) Registration Statement (Forms S-8 No. 333-261968 and No. 333-267597) pertaining to the 2022 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan of
Alector, Inc.;
of our reports dated February 27, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Alector, Inc. and the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting of Alector, Inc. included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Alector, Inc. for the year ended December 31,
2023.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Mateo, California
February 27, 2024
Exhibit 31.1
I, Arnon Rosenthal, certify that:
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Alector, Inc;
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-
15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent
fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
(b)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting.
Date: February 27, 2024
/s/ Arnon Rosenthal
Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Exhibit 31.2
I, Marc Grasso, certify that:
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Alector, Inc;
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-
15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent
fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
(b)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
control over financial reporting.
Date: February 27, 2024
/s/ Marc Grasso
Marc Grasso, M.D.
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Exhibit 32.1
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Alector, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned officer of the Company certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the
Company.
Date: February 27, 2024
/s/ Arnon Rosenthal
Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Exhibit 32.2
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Alector, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned officer of the Company certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the
Company.
Date: February 27, 2024
/s/ Marc Grasso
Marc Grasso, M.D.
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
ALECTOR, INC.
COMPENSATION RECOVERY POLICY
As adopted on September 27, 2023
Exhibit 97
Alector, Inc. (the “Company”) is committed to strong corporate governance. As part of this commitment, the Company’s Board of
Directors (the “Board”) has adopted this clawback policy called the Compensation Recovery Policy (the “Policy”). The Policy is intended to
further the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy and to comply with applicable law by providing for reasonably prompt recovery of
certain executive compensation in the event of an Accounting Restatement. Capitalized terms used throughout the Policy are defined below.
The Policy is intended to comply with Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), with Exchange
Act Rule 10D-1 and with the listing standards of the national securities exchange (the “Exchange”) on which the securities of the Company
are listed. The Policy will be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 10D of the Exchange Act, Exchange
Act Rule 10D-1 and with the listing standards of the Exchange, including any interpretive guidance provided by the Exchange.
The application of the Policy to Executive Officers is not discretionary, except to the limited extent provided below, and applies
without regard to whether an Executive Officer was at fault or committed any misconduct.
Persons Covered by the Policy
The Policy is binding and enforceable with respect to all current and former Executive Officers, including Executive Officers who
are no longer employed with the Company. “Executive Officer” means each individual who is or was ever designated as an “officer” by the
Board in accordance with Exchange Act Rule 16a-1(f). The Company shall require each current Executive Officer to sign and return to the
Company an acknowledgement that such Executive Officer has read and understood the Policy and will be bound by the terms of and comply
with the Policy. The failure to obtain such acknowledgement will have no impact on the applicability or enforceability of the Policy.
Administration of the Policy
The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board has full delegated authority to administer the Policy. The
Committee is authorized to interpret and construe the Policy and to make all determinations necessary, appropriate or advisable for the
administration of the Policy and in accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. In addition, if determined in the discretion of the
Board, the Policy may be administered by the independent members of the Board or a committee made up of independent members of the
Board, in which case all references to the Committee will be deemed to refer to the independent members of the Board or to such committee,
as applicable. All determinations of the Committee will be final and binding and will be given the maximum deference permitted by law.
Events Requiring Application of the Policy
If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any
financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in a previously
issued financial statement that is material to the previously issued financial statement, or that would result in a material misstatement if the
error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period (an “Accounting Restatement”), then the Committee must
determine what compensation, if any, must be recovered.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples of changes to financial statements that would not trigger recovery of
compensation:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Retrospective application of a change in accounting principle
Retrospective revision to reportable segment information due to a change in the company’s internal organizational
structure
Retrospective reclassification due to a discontinued operation
Retrospective application of a change in reporting entity
Retrospective adjustment to provisional amounts in connection with a prior business combination (IFRS filers only)
Retrospective revision for stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, or other changes in capital structure
Compensation Covered by the Policy
The Policy applies to certain Incentive-Based Compensation that is Received on or after October 2, 2023 (the “Effective Date”),
during the Covered Period while the Company has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange. Such Incentive-Based
Compensation is considered “Clawback Eligible Incentive-Based Compensation” if the Incentive-Based Compensation is Received by a
person after such person became an Executive Officer and the person served as an Executive Officer at any time during the performance
period for the Incentive-Based Compensation. The Incentive-Based Compensation that must be recovered (the “Excess Compensation”) is
the amount of Clawback Eligible Incentive-Based Compensation that exceeds the amount of Clawback Eligible Incentive-Based
Compensation that otherwise would have been Received had the latter been determined based on the restated amounts (such Excess
Compensation being computed without regard to any taxes paid). The Excess Compensation is referred to in the listings standards as
“erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation.”
To determine the amount of Excess Compensation for Incentive-Based Compensation based on stock price or total shareholder
return, where it is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in an Accounting Restatement, the amount must be
based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Accounting Restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the
Incentive-Based Compensation was Received, and the Company must maintain documentation of the determination of that reasonable
estimate in accordance with the Company’s retention policy, and provide such documentation to the Exchange.
“Incentive-Based Compensation” means any compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based wholly or in part upon the
attainment of a Financial Reporting Measure. For the avoidance of doubt, no compensation that is potentially subject to recovery under the
Policy will be earned for purposes of this Policy until the Company’s right to recover under the Policy has lapsed. The following are non-
exhaustive examples of items of compensation that are not Incentive-Based Compensation under the Policy: salaries; bonuses paid solely at
the discretion of the Compensation Committee or Board that are not paid from a bonus pool that is determined by satisfying a Financial
Reporting Measure; bonuses paid solely upon satisfying one or more subjective standards and/or completion of a specified employment
period; non-equity incentive plan awards earned solely upon satisfying one or more strategic or operational measures; and equity awards for
which the grant is not contingent upon achieving any Financial Reporting Measure performance goal, and vesting is contingent solely upon
completion of a specified employment period (e.g., time-based vesting equity awards) and/or attainment of one or more non-Financial
Reporting Measures.
“Financial Reporting Measure” is a measure that is determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used
in preparing the Company’s financial statements, and any measure that is derived wholly or in part from such measure. Stock price and total
shareholder return are also Financial Reporting Measures. A Financial Reporting Measure need not be presented within the financial
statements or included in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
-2-
Incentive-Based Compensation is “Received” under the Policy in the Company’s fiscal period during which the Financial
Reporting Measure specified in the Incentive-Based Compensation award is attained, even if the payment, vesting, settlement or grant of the
Incentive-Based Compensation occurs before or after the end of that period. For the avoidance of doubt, the Policy does not apply to
Incentive-Based Compensation for which the Financial Reporting Measure is attained prior to the Effective Date.
“Covered Period” means the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the Accounting Restatement Determination Date.
In addition, Covered Period can include certain transition periods resulting from a change in the Company’s fiscal year. The Company’s
obligation to recover Excess Compensation is not dependent on if or when the restated financial statements are filed.
“Accounting Restatement Determination Date” means the earliest to occur of: (a) the date the Board, a committee of the Board,
or one or more of the officers of the Company authorized to take such action if Board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should
have concluded, that the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement; and (b) the date a court, regulator, or other legally
authorized body directs the Company to prepare an Accounting Restatement.
Repayment of Excess Compensation
The Company must recover Excess Compensation reasonably promptly, and Executive Officers are required to repay Excess
Compensation to the Company. Subject to applicable law, the Company may recover such Excess Compensation by requiring the Executive
Officer to repay such amount to the Company by direct payment to the Company or such other means or combination of means as the
Committee determines to be appropriate (these determinations do not need to be identical as to each Executive Officer). These means may
include:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
requiring reimbursement of cash Incentive-Based Compensation previously paid;
seeking recovery of any gain realized on the vesting, exercise, settlement, sale, transfer, or other disposition of any equity-
based awards;
offsetting the amount to be recovered from any unpaid or future compensation to be paid by the Company or any affiliate
of the Company to the Executive Officer;
cancelling outstanding vested or unvested equity awards; and/or
taking any other remedial and recovery action permitted by law, as determined by the Committee.
The repayment of Excess Compensation must be made by an Executive Officer notwithstanding any Executive Officer’s belief
(whether legitimate or non-legitimate) that the Excess Compensation had been previously earned under applicable law and therefore should
not be subject to clawback.
In addition to its rights to recovery under the Policy, the Company or any affiliate of the Company may take any legal actions it
determines appropriate to enforce an Executive Officer’s obligations to the Company or to discipline an Executive Officer, including (without
limitation) termination of employment, institution of civil proceedings, reporting of misconduct to appropriate governmental authorities,
reduction of future compensation opportunities or change in role. The decision to take any actions described in the preceding sentence will
not be subject to the approval of the Committee and can be made by the Board, any committee of the Board, or any duly authorized officer of
the Company or of any applicable affiliate of the Company.
-3-
Limited Exceptions to the Policy
The Company must recover the Excess Compensation in accordance with the Policy except to the limited extent that the conditions
set forth below are met, and the Committee determines that recovery of the Excess Compensation would be impracticable:
(a)
(b)
The direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing the Policy would exceed the amount to be recovered. Before
reaching this conclusion, the Company must make a reasonable attempt to recover such Excess Compensation, document
such reasonable attempt(s) to recover, and provide that documentation to the Exchange; or
Recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to
employees of the Company, to fail to meet the legal requirements as such.
Other Important Information in the Policy
The Policy is in addition to the requirements of Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are applicable to the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as well as any other applicable laws, regulatory requirements or rules, or the
terms of any existing or future Company policy or agreement providing for the recovery of compensation applicable to Executive Officers or
any employee of the Company.
Notwithstanding the terms of any of the Company’s organizational documents (including, but not limited to, the Company’s
bylaws), any corporate policy or any contract (including, but not limited to, any indemnification agreement), neither the Company nor any
affiliate of the Company will indemnify against or provide advancement to any Executive Officer for any loss of Excess Compensation.
Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company will pay for or reimburse insurance premiums for an insurance policy that covers
potential recovery obligations. In the event the Company is required pursuant to the Policy to recover Excess Compensation from an
Executive Officer who is no longer an employee, the Company will be entitled to seek such recovery in order to comply with applicable law,
regardless of the terms of any release of claims or separation agreement such Executive Officer may have signed.
The Committee or Board may review and modify the Policy from time to time.
If any provision of the Policy or the application of any such provision to any Executive Officer is adjudicated to be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provisions of the Policy or the
application of such provisions to such Executive Officer or another Executive Officer, and the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions
will be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to render any such provision or application enforceable.
The Policy will terminate and no longer be enforceable if the Company ceases to be a listed issuer within the meaning of Section
10D of the Exchange Act.
-4-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
I acknowledge that I have received, read and understood the Compensation Recovery Policy (the “Policy”) of Alector, Inc. (the
“Company”).
I understand and acknowledge that the Policy applies to me and all of my beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators or other
legal representatives, during and after my employment with the Company in accordance with the terms of the Policy, and that the
Company’s right to recovery in order to comply with applicable law will apply regardless of the terms of any release of claims or
separation agreement I have signed or will sign in the future.
I agree to be bound by and to comply with the Policy and understand that determinations of the Committee (as such term is used in
the Policy) will be final and binding and will be given the maximum deference permitted by law.
I understand and agree that my current indemnification rights, whether in an individual agreement or the Company’s organizational
documents, exclude the right to be indemnified for amounts required to be recovered under the Policy.
I understand that my failure to comply in any respect with the Policy is a basis for termination of my employment with the
Company and any affiliate of the Company as well as any other appropriate discipline.
I understand that neither the Policy, nor the application of the Policy to me, gives rise to a resignation for good reason (or similar
concept) by me under any applicable employment agreement or arrangement.
I acknowledge that if I have questions concerning the meaning or application of the Policy, it is my responsibility to seek guidance
from the General Counsel or Compliance Officer or my own personal advisers.
I acknowledge that neither this Acknowledgement nor the Policy is meant to constitute an employment contract.
Please review, sign and return this form to the General Counsel or Compliance Officer.
Executive
_________________________
(print name)
_________________________
(signature)
_________________________
(date)