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A n n u a l R e p o r t
Dear Fellow CytomX Stockholders,
Our vision at CytomX is to transform the lives of cancer patients with safer, more effective therapies. This has been
our driving force for over a decade and continues to guide our work every day. New discoveries in cancer research,
including new biologic treatments, provide hope for better patient outcomes. However, many of these approaches
are limited in their ability to treat certain tumor types, to provide strong or durable responses and, in many cases, to
show benefit without significant toxicity. Our PROBODY® therapeutic platform is designed to enable the creation of
high impact therapeutics that are localized to cancer tissue, with the goal of delivering safe and effective anti-cancer
activity, leveraging novel mechanisms and modalities. Our scientific depth in this field of ”masked”, conditionally
activated therapeutics positions the Company at the forefront of potential breakthroughs with potent biologic
modalities such as T-Cell engagers, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and cytokines. Leveraging our expertise and
platform, we aim to bring forward the next wave of oncology treatments, realizing our powerful vision.
Throughout 2023, we remained highly focused on execution against a very clear plan. With our internal pipeline and
with our collaborators, we are advancing more than fifteen PROBODY programs across multiple modalities, including
three clinical-stage molecules, paving the way for important milestones over the next 12 to 18 months. We operated
the company in a highly capital efficient manner and maintained a strong financial position through a continued
balance of non-dilutive and equity-based financing. Our accomplishments underscore our leadership in conditionally
activated, masked biologic therapies and support our mission to change the treatment of cancer by urgently
advancing our PROBODY pipeline.
The PROBODY Platform and the Promise of Masking and Conditional Activation
CytomX leadership in this emerging field derives from more than a decade of innovation with the PROBODY
therapeutic platform which uses unique antibody masking strategies to localize anti-cancer activity to tumor cells and
away from healthy cells, enhancing the therapeutic window for potent biologic modalities like ADCs, T-cell engagers
and cytokines. We are proud to have created this field, that now includes multiple entrants to the space, and it is both
exciting and rewarding to see increasing benefit being realized for patients. CytomX’s current product candidates
span multiple modalities and integrate key design elements that leverage previously validated oncology targets,
potent effector mechanisms and tailored masking strategies. Masked therapeutics will be an important part of the
future of biologics and we believe that CytomX is well positioned to play a leading role in this exciting frontier in
cancer research and development.
CX-904 and the Promise of PROBODY T-Cell Engagers
T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies (TCEs) offer profound opportunities for the treatment of solid tumors by
directing T-cells to kill cancer cells. TCEs are emerging as a validated mechanism for solid tumors with tremendous
promise. However, for this modality to fully break through, there are still significant challenges to overcome. The high
potency of TCEs can lead to toxicities in normal tissues where the target tumor antigen may also be present, or
cytokine release syndrome when activated T-cells generate an exaggerated immune response. We believe that the
PROBODY platform may be ideally suited to unlock this important modality by masking TCEs, bringing the power of
these new therapies to a broader set of patients.
CX-904, our lead clinical program advancing under a global co-development collaboration with Amgen, is a
PROBODY TCE targeting the tumor antigen epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and CD3 on T-cells. EGFR is a
validated cancer target present on many cancers. CX-904 is designed to address the principal challenges of
developing an EGFR-CD3 TCE by delivering anti-tumor activity at tolerable systemic doses. In 2023, we continued to
advance CX-904 through a Phase 1a clinical trial with the goal of evaluating safety and identifying dosing regimens
for Phase 1b. We expect to share initial Phase 1a dose escalation data in 2024 which will inform a potential
decision with our partner Amgen to initiate Phase 1b of the clinical trial in 2025.
CX-2051 and the Promise of PROBODY Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
There has been tremendous progress in the field of ADCs in the past few years with meaningful clinical results
demonstrating the potential to improve upon and even replace chemotherapy over time. The impact of this anti-
cancer modality highlights the need to break through with novel targets that can address a broader group of
patients. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a high potential oncology target expressed in many cancer
types. EpCAM has been clinically validated with locally administered therapeutic approaches. However, efforts to
generate systemic anti-EpCAM therapeutics have been limited by toxicities in normal epithelial tissues, where EpCAM
is also present.
CX-2051, our first-in-class PROBODY ADC targeting EpCAM, is tailored to optimize the therapeutic index for EpCAM-
expressing epithelial cancers by masking the antibody to reduce binding in normal tissues, but to allow activation in
tumor tissue. CX-2051 harbors a novel cytotoxic payload that inhibits topoisomerase-1, a validated strategy for killing
many tumor types, including colorectal cancer. CX-2051 has demonstrated a wide predicted therapeutic index and
strong preclinical activity and tolerability in multiple preclinical models. In 2023, we advanced CX-2051 successfully
through Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies and filed an IND which was cleared by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2024. We recently initiated a Phase 1 dose escalation study in solid tumors
generally known to have EpCAM expression, including colorectal cancer. This clinical study is designed to evaluate the
safety and preliminary anti-tumor activity of CX-2051, and to provide initial clinical proof of concept to inform a
potential decision to move into dose expansions in 2025. CX-2051 could potentially address a large patient population
as EpCAM is highly expressed across many indications including colorectal, gastric, endometrial and ovarian cancers.
CX-801 and the Promise of PROBODY Cytokines
Interferon alpha is a powerful cytokine with the ability to potently drive tumor antigen presentation and activate anti-
tumor immunity. Interferon-alpha 2b (IFNα2b) is an approved immunotherapeutic that has demonstrated clinical
activity in multiple cancer types, including in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. IFNα2b provides a potentially
superior approach to activating anti-tumor immune responses than other cytokines and recent advances in this space
have reaffirmed that this potent cytokine can indeed achieve robust anti-tumor responses in patients when locally
delivered. Systemic, unmasked IFNα2b, however, is not well tolerated and is therefore not widely used in cancer
therapy today.
CX-801 is our dually masked, PROBODY IFNα2b which is designed to be better tolerated, allowing for the anti-
cancer potential of this cytokine to be realized. We believe CX-801 has the potential to become a cornerstone of
combination immunotherapy for a wide range of tumor types including those that have either stopped responding to,
or have failed to respond to, prior immunotherapy. In 2023, we advanced CX-801 through IND-enabling studies and
our IND filing was cleared by the FDA in January 2024, alongside the IND for CX-2051, marking a highly productive
period of execution by the CytomX team. We expect to initiate Phase 1 dose escalation in solid tumors, including
melanoma, renal cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in 2024.
With our ongoing Phase 1 clinical trials for CX-904 and CX-2051, and CX-801 anticipated to enter the clinic in the
near future, we believe our PROBODY therapeutic programs across established anti-cancer modalities offer a broad
opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the treatment of cancer and build substantial shareholder value.
The Strategic Value of PROBODY Platform Partnerships
Our scientific leadership in the field of masking and conditional activation has attracted major partnerships with
leading oncology companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, Astellas, Regeneron and Moderna. CytomX
holds significant commercial rights on a number of collaboration programs, consistent with our goal of building a long-
term, commercial stage company. To date, our partnerships have generated more than $500 million of incoming cash
and we see near-term opportunities for additional milestone payments in 2024 and 2025. The progress with
collaborators highlights our strategy to further extend the reach of our science and create value through a broad,
diversified pipeline of wholly-owned and partnered therapeutic programs.
The Future Promise of CytomX and the PROBODY Therapeutic Pipeline
CytomX enters 2024 in a strong strategic position in the field of biologics masking and more broadly in oncology
R&D. We believe our leading, multi-modality PROBODY therapeutic pipeline will address major unmet medical needs
in the treatment of cancer, with the ability to unlock the power of potent anti-cancer modalities, including T-Cell
engagers, ADCs and cytokines, each of which represents a highly relevant and timely area of strategic interest across
the industry. 2024 will be an exciting year for us and the longer-term outlook for 2025 and beyond is highly
promising as we advance CX-904, CX-2051 and CX-801 towards key milestones over the next 12 to 18 months. We
remain focused on execution of these milestones to achieve our goal of delivering meaningful long-term value for
patients and shareholders.
I want to thank our board of directors and advisors, who have continued to guide us, and our investors, whose support
advances our mission. I am grateful to our employees for their continued commitment and contributions - collectively,
you are our most valuable asset. We have a strong, values-based culture that embraces innovation, diversity and
inclusion. We know that our platform and pipeline have the potential to transform lives, and we are driven by this
purpose. The future for CytomX has never been brighter.
Sincerely,
Sean A. McCarthy, D.Phil.
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
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 001-37587
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
151 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400
South San Francisco, California
(Address of principal executive offices)
27-3521219
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
94080
(Zip Code)
(650) 515-3185
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Common Stock, $0.00001 par value
Trading Symbol(s)
CTMX
Name of each exchange on which registered
The Nasdaq Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the issuer (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90
days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T
(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging
growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
☐
☒
Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
☐
☒
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised
financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over
financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the
correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the
registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 30, 2023, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock
held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $114.1 million, based on the closing price of the registrant’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select
Market on June 30, 2023 of $1.72 per share. Shares of the registrant’s common stock held by each officer and director and each person known to the registrant to own
10% or more of the outstanding common stock of the registrant have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed affiliates. This determination of affiliate status
is not a determination for other purposes.
As of February 29, 2024, 67,721,658 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, were outstanding. This number does not include
14,423,077 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants outstanding as of February 29, 2024 (which are immediately exercisable at an
exercise price of $0.00001 per share of common stock, subject to beneficial ownership limitations) sold in the registrant’s private placement in July 2023. See Note
12— Common Stock to the registrant’s audited financial statements.
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof. Such
proxy statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
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CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
ITEM 1.
Business
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
ITEM 1C. Cybersecurity
ITEM 2.
Properties
ITEM 3.
Legal Proceedings
ITEM 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
PART II
ITEM 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
ITEM 6.
[Reserved]
ITEM 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ITEM 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
ITEM 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 9B.
Other Information
ITEM 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections
PART III
ITEM 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
ITEM 11.
Executive Compensation
ITEM 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
ITEM 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
ITEM 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
PART IV
ITEM 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
ITEM 16.
Form 10-K Summary
Signatures
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Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-
looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These
statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “could,” “predict,”
“potential,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “would,”
“annualized” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-
looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and
projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature,
are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual
results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
A number of important factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking
statements, including those factors identified in “Risk Factors” or “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” or the following:
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our expectations regarding the potential benefits, activity, effectiveness and safety of our product candidates and
therapeutics developed utilizing our PROBODY® conditionally activated platform technology;
the initiation, timing, progress and results of our ongoing clinical trials, research and development programs, preclinical
studies, and Investigational New Drug Application (“IND”), Clinical Trial Application, New Drug Application (“NDA”),
Biologics License Application (“BLA”); and other regulatory submissions;
the timing of the completion of our ongoing clinical trials and the timing and availability of clinical data from such
clinical trials;
our ability to identify and develop additional product candidates;
our dependence on collaborators for developing, obtaining regulatory approval for and commercializing product
candidates in the collaboration;
our or a collaborator’s ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of any of our product candidates;
our receipt and timing of any milestone payments or royalties under any research collaboration and license agreements or
arrangements;
our expectations and beliefs regarding the evolution of the market for cancer therapies and development of the immuno-
oncology industry;
the rate and degree of market acceptance of any approved product candidates;
the commercialization of any approved product candidates;
our ability to establish and maintain collaborations and retain commercial rights for our product candidates in such
collaborations;
the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business, technologies and product candidates;
our estimates of our expenses, ongoing losses, future revenue and capital requirements;
our ability to obtain additional funds for our operations;
our or any collaborator’s ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our technologies and product
candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others;
our reliance on third parties to conduct our preclinical studies or any future clinical trials;
our reliance on third-party supply and manufacturing partners to supply the materials and components for, and
manufacture, our research and development, preclinical and clinical trial product supplies;
our ability to attract and retain qualified key management and technical personnel;
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our ability to secure and maintain licenses of intellectual property to protect our technologies and product candidates;
our financial performance;
developments relating to our competitors, our industry, international conflict or uncertainties; and
the extent to which any future pandemic and related governmental regulations and restrictions may impact our business,
including our research, clinical trials, which include ongoing site initiation and patient enrollment, manufacturing and
financial condition;
Any forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K reflect our current views with respect to future events or to our
future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among
other things, those listed under Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors and discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Given
these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume
no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the
future.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K also contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business
and the markets for certain drugs and therapeutic biologics, including data regarding the estimated size of those markets, their
projected growth rates and the incidence of certain medical conditions. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections or
similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and
circumstances reflected in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained these industry, business, market and other
data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by third parties, industry, medical and general publications,
government data and similar sources. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which these data are derived.
Except where the context otherwise requires, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc.
Trademarks
This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All
trademarks, service marks and trade names included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are the property of their respective owners.
Risk Factors Summary
We are providing the following summary of risk factors contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to enhance the readability and
accessibility of our risk factor disclosures in accordance with SEC rules. Please carefully review the full risk factors pertaining to this
summary and to additional general risk factors contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in their entirety for additional
information regarding the material factors that make an investment in our securities speculative or risky. These risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to, the following:
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We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history and have not generated any revenue
from product sales.
We expect that we will need to raise substantial additional funds to advance development of our product candidates and
we cannot guarantee that this additional funding will be available on acceptable terms or at all.
Clinical development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies
and trials may not be predictive of future trial results.
Our product candidates are in early stages of development and may fail or suffer delays that materially and adversely
affect their commercial viability.
Interim, “top-line,” and preliminary data from our clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may
change as more patient data become available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in
material changes in the final data.
Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects at any time during or after the clinical trial process that could
delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant
negative consequences following marketing approval, if any, including withdrawal from the market.
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If we experience delays or difficulties in the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, our receipt of necessary regulatory
approvals could be delayed or prevented.
We are currently conducting and will continue to conduct clinical trials and will contract with third-party manufacturers in
foreign countries, including China, which could expose us to risks that could have a material adverse effect on the success
of our business.
Because we have no long-term contracts with and rely on third-party manufacturing and supply partners, most of which
are sole source suppliers, our supply of research and development, preclinical and clinical development materials may
become limited or interrupted or may not be of satisfactory quantity or quality.
We, or third-party manufacturers, may be unable to successfully scale-up manufacturing of our product candidates in
sufficient quality and quantity, which would delay or prevent us from developing our product candidates and
commercializing approved products, if any.
We rely on third parties to conduct all of our clinical trials and certain of our preclinical studies and intend to continue to
do so, and if such third parties do not perform as contractually required, fail to satisfy regulatory or legal requirements or
miss expected deadlines, our development programs could be delayed with material and adverse effects on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our approach to the discovery and development of our therapeutic treatments is based on novel technologies that are
unproven and may not result in marketable products.
The market may not be receptive to our product candidates based on a novel therapeutic modality, and we may not
generate any future revenue from the sale or licensing of product candidates.
We have entered, and may in the future seek to enter, into collaborations with third parties for the development and
commercialization of our product candidates using our PROBODY platform. If we fail to enter into such collaborations,
or such collaborations are not successful, we may not be able to capitalize on the market potential of our PROBODY
platform and resulting product candidates.
If our collaborators cease development efforts under our collaboration agreements, or if any of those agreements are
terminated, these collaborations may fail to lead to commercial products and we may never receive milestone payments or
future royalties under these agreements.
If we do not achieve our projected development and commercialization goals in the timeframes we announce and expect,
the commercialization of any of our product candidates may be delayed, or never attained, and our business will be
harmed.
We may not successfully engage in strategic transactions, including any additional collaborations we seek, which could
adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize product candidates, impact our cash position, increase our
expense and present significant distractions to our management.
If we are unable to successfully develop companion diagnostic tests for certain of our product candidates, or experience
significant delays in doing so, we may not realize the full commercial potential of our product candidates.
We face competition from entities that have developed or may develop product candidates for cancer, including
companies developing novel treatments and technology platforms. If these companies develop technologies or product
candidates more rapidly than we do or their technologies are more effective, our ability to develop and successfully
commercialize product candidates may be adversely affected.
If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in a timely manner
or with adequate compliance, we may be subject to a loss of stockholder confidence and sanctions or investigations by
regulatory authorities or litigation.
Our stock price may be volatile and purchasers of our common stock could incur substantial losses.
Any future pandemic could adversely impact our business, including our research, clinical trials, including clinical trial
site initiation and patient enrollment, and financial condition.
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Item 1. Business
Overview
PART I
We are a clinical-stage, oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, conditionally activated biologics
designed to be localized to the tumor microenvironment. We aim to build a commercial enterprise to maximize our impact on the
treatment of cancer. By pioneering a novel class of localized biologic drug candidates, powered by our PROBODY® therapeutic
technology platform, we lead the field of conditionally activated oncology therapeutics and have established biologics localization as a
strategic area of research and development. Our vision is to transform lives with safer, more effective therapies with the goal of
addressing major unmet needs in oncology.
Our proprietary, versatile, multi-modality PROBODY technology platform is designed to enable conditional activation of biologic
therapeutic candidates within the tumor microenvironment while minimizing drug activity in healthy tissues and circulation. Our
platform is built on a strong foundation of tumor biology expertise including deep knowledge of tumor-associated enzymes known as
proteases. Proteases are tightly controlled in normal tissues but often dysregulated and active in tumor microenvironments where they
play important roles in cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Leveraging our deep scientific knowledge, we conceived of and
constructed our PROBODY therapeutic platform which allows us to genetically engineer biologic therapeutic candidates to contain
protease-cleavable masks. Our masking strategy is designed to reduce binding of biologic drugs to their targets until the mask is
removed by proteases in the tumor microenvironment, providing more selective targeting of the tumor.
We are employing our leading, conditional activation platform technology to address some of the biggest challenges in oncology
biologics research and development. These include the validation of potential new targets for antibody-drug conjugates (“ADCs”),
opening therapeutic window for novel T-cell engagers (“TCEs”) targeting solid tumors, and increasing the therapeutic index for
immune modulators such as cytokines. We are also exploring the potential of our PROBODY platform in preclinical research in areas
outside of oncology, including in our collaboration with Moderna.
We have utilized our PROBODY therapeutic platform to build a promising, broad pipeline of potential first-in-class and best-in-class
clinical-stage molecules. These are CX-904, a conditionally activated, PROBODY® TCE, targeting the epidermal growth factor
receptor (“EGFR”) on tumor cells and the CD3 receptor on T cells; CX-2051, an investigational, conditionally activated ADC
targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule (“EpCAM”); and CX-801, an investigational, masked version of interferon alpha-2b
(“IFNα2b”). Our current clinical-stage molecules address targets or mechanisms that have been previously validated as having anti-
cancer activity but have been limited in their utilization due to systemic toxicities. We have incorporated our significant platform
expertise and ongoing clinical learnings to optimize predicted therapeutic index and the clinical potential of these promising agents
through tumor localized conditional activation.
We also have a broad pre-clinical pipeline that spans multiple therapeutic modalities. CytomX’s total pipeline spans more than 15
programs across its partnered and internal pipeline.
Our Corporate Strategy
We are utilizing our proprietary, versatile, multi-modality PROBODY platform to create a robust pipeline of biologic therapeutics to
improve the lives of people with cancer and to build a long-term, multi-product, commercial biopharmaceutical company. We aim to
achieve this goal by:
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Leveraging the multi-modality breadth of our platform to advance novel, high potential therapeutic formats into the clinic
such as T-cell engagers. The field of TCEs for solid tumors has gained momentum as a strategic area of research and
development but continues to remain challenged for many targets due to limited therapeutic window. We believe our
PROBODY platform is well-suited to address this challenge by localizing the potent anti-tumor activity of TCEs and
potentially limiting systemic toxicities. We have a broad and growing effort in the field of TCEs including active
programs with our partners, Astellas, Regeneron, Bristol Myers Squibb and Amgen. Our lead program in our pipeline of
TCEs is CX-904, which is partnered with Amgen in a global co-development alliance. We are conducting early
development as part of the Amgen alliance and retains a portion of U.S. commercial rights. CX-904 is designed to have
broad potential in EGFR positive tumors by preferentially localizing T-cells to solid tumors. In May 2022, the first patient
was dosed in a Phase 1 study in patients with advanced solid tumors. We reported in January 2023 that the initial single
patient cohort phase of the study was complete and that the “3+3” patient cohort phase had been initiated. Backfilling of
certain dose escalation cohorts has also been initiated and dose ranging continues. Initial Phase 1a data are expected in
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the second half of 2024. A decision to potentially expand into Phase 1b is also anticipated in 2024, which will be taken in
conjunction with our partner, Amgen.
Advancing potentially first-in-class therapies against validated, high potential anti-cancer targets that have not yet been
broadly developed as systemic therapies because of target expression in healthy tissue. CX-2051, targeting EpCAM, is a
novel ADC program in this category. CX-2051 is designed to optimize the therapeutic index for EpCAM-expressing
epithelial cancers, including colorectal cancer. CX-2051’s payload is a camptothecin derivative, a topoisomerase-1
inhibitor, which has a well characterized profile base on the strong clinical activity observed with other topoisomerase-1
inhibiting ADCs and is also optimized for bystander effect. The investigational new drug application (“IND”) for CX-
2051 was allowed to proceed by the FDA in January of 2024 and the molecule is expected to enter Phase 1 clinical testing
in the first half of 2024.
Unlocking high potential immunotherapeutics that have been previously limited in their systemic use due to toxicities. To
this end, we have advanced CX-801, a masked interferon alpha-2b program, towards the clinic. Interferon alpha-2b is a
validated previously approved immunotherapeutic that has demonstrated clinical activity in multiple cancer types,
including in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. Despite the potential and previous validation, previous IFNα2b-
based systemic therapies have been limited in their utilization due to systemic toxicities. CX-801 is an investigational,
dually masked, conditionally activated version of IFNα2b that is designed to be preferentially active in the tumor
microenvironment. The IND for CX-801 was allowed to proceed by the FDA in January of 2024 and the molecule is
expected to enter Phase 1 clinical testing in the first half of 2024.
Partnering with leading global biopharmaceutical companies to access capital, additional resources and expertise, as well
as increase the number of PROBODY therapeutic candidates being advanced into clinical studies. We currently have
several strategic alliances with major multinational drug companies, including Amgen, Inc. (“Amgen”), Bristol Myers
Squibb, Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Regeneron”), and ModernaTX, Inc., a
wholly owned subsidiary of Moderna, Inc (“Moderna”).
Fostering a unique, patient-focused culture centered around our Company vision of transforming lives with safer, more
effective therapies and executing with focus towards our mission to urgently advance our pipeline of PROBODY
therapeutics.
Our Pipeline of Conditionally Activated, Localized Product Candidates
We are leveraging our multi-modality PROBODY platform across to build a robust pipeline of potential therapies that are designed to
address high unmet needs. CytomX’s pipeline spans pre-clinical and clinical programs and includes a range of therapeutic formats
including T-cell engagers, immunotherapies, antibody drug conjugates, and, most recently, mRNA. The table below depicts the
current status of our clinical-stage, conditionally activated product candidates, including both collaboration and wholly owned
programs and potential milestones in 2024. Our current lead clinical programs focus on validated targets, for which substantial
potential remains if they can be improved by widening the therapeutic index. By employing tailored masking strategies and choosing
an optimal effector function (e.g. ADC, TCE), each program has been designed to optimize therapeutic window in order to address
large unmet needs in oncology.
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CytomX Pipeline of Clinical Stage PROBODY Therapeutics and 2024 Potential Milestones
as of March 2024
*Licensed from ImmunoGen (acquired by AbbVie in 2024)
CX-904, A Conditionally Activated PROBODY TCE Targeting EGFR and CD3
We have extended our PROBODY platform to the new and promising modality of TCEs. Conventional TCEs are a highly potent
therapeutic modality designed to direct the activity of cytotoxic T cells to tumors. TCEs such as the BiTE® molecule, Blincyto®, a
CD19-directed TCE commercialized by Amgen, have shown clinical activity in hematologic malignancies, but development of TCEs
for solid tumor indications has been challenging. Due to their high potency, TCEs can target normal tissues with low antigen
expression, which may result in significant toxicity. We believe these toxicity challenges could be addressed using our PROBODY
platform by localizing the activity of TCEs to the tumor microenvironment thereby increasing the therapeutic index for TCEs in solid
tumors.
Our most advanced program in this modality is CX-904, a conditionally activated epidermal growth factor receptor-CD3
(“EGFRxCD3”) TCE, which we partnered with Amgen. The strategy for CX-904 is to utilize EGFR expression as an "address" to
localize T-cells to solid tumors. EGFR is a broadly expressed, highly validated antibody target with multiple approved therapies on the
market. CX-904 is a bispecific antibody targeting EGFR and CD3 and is masked on both binding domains to potentially mediate both
EGFR and CD3 related toxicities. CX-904 has been optimized in preclinical studies and we believe may result in a novel approach to
address the large number of EGFR positive solid tumors.
In preclinical studies, our PROBODY EGFRxCD3 TCE therapeutics demonstrated anti-tumor activity and better tolerability when
compared to EGFRxCD3 TCEs without PROBODY masking. In May 2022, the first patient was dosed in a Phase 1 study in patients
with advanced solid tumors. We reported in January 2023 that the initial single patient cohort phase of the study was complete and
that the “3+3” patient cohort phase had been initiated. Backfilling of certain dose escalation cohorts has also been initiated and dose
ranging continues. Initial Phase 1a data are expected in the second half of 2024. A decision to potentially expand into Phase 1b is also
anticipated in 2024, which will be taken in conjunction with our partner, Amgen, with whom we entered into a global collaboration in
2017.
CX-2051, A Conditionally Activated PROBODY ADC Targeting EpCAM
The field of ADCs has made tremendous progress in recent years in hematologic and increasingly, in solid tumors. ADCs are making
a difference for patients across a wide range of tumors and continue to move earlier in the treatment paradigm across certain
malignancies. The success of the field has driven increased interest in this modality including the need to identify novel ADC targets
as well as optimized linker payloads.
EpCAM is a strategic pan-tumor target with high potential across many tumor types. EpCAM has been clinically validated with
locally administered, approved cancer therapies. However, efforts to generate systemic anti-EpCAM therapeutics have, to date, not
been successful due to toxicities in epithelial tissues. CX-2051, a conditionally activated ADC, is designed to optimize the therapeutic
index for EpCAM-expressing epithelial cancers, including colorectal cancer. CX-2051’s payload is a camptothecin derivative, a
topoisomerase-1 inhibitor, which has a well characterized profile base on the strong clinical activity observed with other
topoisomerase-1 inhibiting ADCs and is also optimized for bystander effect .
6
Preclinically, CX-2051 has demonstrated a wide predicted therapeutic index, as well as strong activity and tolerability in multiple
preclinical models, including in colorectal cancer. In preclinical safety studies in cynomolgus monkeys, CX-2051 was tolerated at
doses at least six times higher than an unmasked EpCAM ADC. Based on the wide predicted therapeutic index, we believe CX-2051
has the potential to address a broad range of EpCAM expressing solid tumors and make a significant difference for patients. The
preclinical results for CX-2051 were presented at the World ADC Conference in 2023.
The IND for CX-2051 was allowed to proceed by the FDA in January 2024 and we expect Phase 1 clinical initiation in EpCAM
expressing solid tumors, including CRC, in the first half of 2024. The Phase 1 dose escalation design will follow a Bayesian Optimal
Interval ("BOIN") design and intended to evaluate clinical proof of concept and potentially move into dose expansion studies in 2025.
CX-801, A Conditionally Activated PROBODY Cytokine, Interferon alpha-2b (IFNα2b)
With the emergence and impact of checkpoint inhibitors, many patients have benefited from immunotherapy treatment yet significant
unmet need remains in patients who either do not respond to immunotherapies or who need additional treatments upon recurrence of
their disease. We believe IFNα2b provides a potentially superior approach to activating anti-tumor immune responses than other
cytokines. Based on the novel properties of IFNα2b, it has a dual mechanism of action, in that it is designed to directly kill cancer cells
while also increasing antigen presenting cells.
Interferon alpha-2b is also a validated previously approved immunotherapeutic that has demonstrated clinical activity in multiple
cancer types, including in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. Additionally, Adstiladrin® , a gene therapy encoding interferon
alpha-2b locally for BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer ("NMIBC"), was approved in 2022 and achieved a 51
percent complete response rate in a clinical study.
Despite the potential and previous validation, previous IFNα2b-based systemic therapies have been limited in their utilization due to
systemic toxicities. CX-801 is an investigational, dually masked, conditionally activated version of IFNα2b that is designed to be
preferentially active in the tumor microenvironment. Preclinically, we optimized the predicted therapeutic index by tightly masking
the molecule using both a peptide mask to block binding to the receptor in the periphery and an Fc steric mask, both of which are
unmasked by protease activity in the tumor tissue. In preclinical studies, CX-801 was tolerated at doses more than 100-fold higher
than unmasked IFNα2b. PROBODY IFNα2b also showed synergistic effects with checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical models and the
ability to inflame the tumor microenvironment. The preclinical profile of CX-801 was presented at SITC 2023.
The IND for CX-801 was allowed to proceed by the FDA in January 2024 and initiation of Phase 1 dose escalation in solid tumors
including melanoma, renal, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is expected in the first half of 2024. In Phase 1 dose
escalation, we will use a BOIN design to evaluate safety and signs of clinical activity for CX-801 and progress into combinations,
where we believe CX-801 has the potential to be cornerstone of therapy, if approved, including in combination with checkpoint
inhibitors.
CX-2029: A Conditionally Activated ADC Targeting CD71, The Transferrin Receptor
CX-2029 was originally developed in a global co-development collaboration with AbbVie. This program is intended to open a
therapeutic index for successful targeting of CD71, also known as the transferrin receptor 1 (“TfR1”). CD71 is a cell surface protein
essential for iron uptake in dividing cells and is highly expressed in a number of solid and hematologic cancers. However, given its
central role in iron metabolism, CD71 is present on most healthy cells and is thought to be an undruggable target with conventional
ADCs. CX-2029 is conjugated with the tubulin inhibitor, monomethyl auristatin E (“MMAE”), as the payload.
Having demonstrated favorable tolerability results and encouraging anti-tumor activity in Phase 1 studies, CX-2029 entered into a
four-cohort Phase 2 expansion study initially designed to enroll twenty-five efficacy evaluable patients per cohort in the following
malignancies: squamous non-small cell lung cancer (“sqNSCLC”), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (“HNSCC”), esophageal
and gastro-esophageal junction (“E/GEJ”) cancers, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (“DLBCL”). The DLBCL cohort was later
deprioritized due to strategic and competitive reasons and did not enroll any patients. In January 2023, a data update for the Phase 2
expansion was disclosed which included data across all fully enrolled cohorts. The study results reflected an August 5, 2022 full data
cut-off and an October 4, 2022 data snapshot for efficacy. The data demonstrated encouraging clinical activity in unselected, heavily
pre-treated patients with tumors of squamous histology, including a 21% objective response rate (ORR) in squamous esophageal
cancer and a 10% ORR in squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC). The adverse event (AE) profile was consistent with
Phase 1 observations with anemia (82.6%) being the most common treatment related adverse event (TRAE), including 76.1% Grade 3
TRAEs. Anemia was managed with transfusions, dose delays, and dose reductions. The treatment discontinuation rate due to AEs
was 3.3% as a result of anemia. In March 2023, AbbVie notified CytomX that it decided not to advance CX-2029 into additional
clinical studies and terminated the 2016 CD71 License and Collaboration Agreement.
7
CytomX re-acquired full rights to CX-2029 and the CD71 target but does not currently have plans to make further significant
investments in the solid tumor CX-2029 program in the near-term. However, given the high potential of the CD71 target and previous
clinical validation and learnings from the CX-2029 development program, including the observation of confirmed anti-tumor
responses in squamous esophageal cancer, the Company continues to explore next-generation CD71 strategies.
Next Generation CTLA-4 Therapies (BMS-986288)
BMS-986288 is a PROBODY version of non-fucosylated ipilimumab. The non-fucosylated Fc region of BMS-986288 enhances
antigen-presenting cell-mediated T-cell priming and regulatory T-cell (Treg) modulation and is therefore intended to confer increased
potency compared to fucosylated ipilimumab. Bristol Myers Squibb was evaluating the safety and efficacy of BMS-986288 alone and
in combination with nivolumab in a Phase 1/2 study in patients with certain advanced solid tumors. In February 2023, BMS advanced
BMS-986288 to Phase 2 and prioritized the molecule as its lead next-generation CTLA-4 program over its non-fucosylated CTLA-4
antibody ("BMS-986218") and the PROBODY version of ipilumamab ("BMS-986249"). The Phase 2 study for BMS-986288 included
proof-of-concept studies in NSCLC and MSS CRC.
Following a corporate portfolio prioritization process, Bristol Myers Squibb notified CytomX on March 6th, 2024, that it does not
intend to continue the development of BMS-986288 beyond the current Phase 2 study and terminated its work on the CTLA-4 target
under the collaboration.
Bristol Myers Squibb’s first generation PROBODY CTLA-4, BMS-986249, was a masked version of ipilumamab, which was
advanced into a Phase 2 clinical trial. The Phase 1 clinical data for BMS-986249 were presented by Bristol Myers Squibb at the
European Society for Medical Oncology congress in 2022. The data demonstrated that the PROBODY platform, including that BMS-
986249 could be dosed alone and in combination with nivolumab at doses that were higher than the FDA approved doses of
ipilumamab alone or in combination with nivolumab. Additionally, the tumor pharmokinetic data indicated that BMS-986249 was
unmasked in a dose-dependent manner across multiple tumor types. Bristol Myers Squibb also indicated that BMS-986249 was
generally well tolerated with no unexpected or new safety signals in the Phase 1 results and both BMS-986249 monotherapy and
BMS-986249 in combination with nivolumab showed promising preliminary activity.
CytomX Platform and Pipeline Breadth Including Partnered Pipeline
We continue to innovate and improve our platform technology and extend the reach of our science through partnering and internal
development of our wholly-owned pipeline. Our sustained efforts in research have resulted in an industry-leading level of breadth and
depth with conditional activation and a wide range of therapeutic conditionally activated modalities including ADCs cytokines and
mRNAs. Over more than ten years, we have gained substantial experience and learnings from the preclinical and clinical work
conducted on our earlier programs. We have taken these lessons and applied them to advancing our current pipeline programs. Our
total partnered and wholly owned pipeline includes more than 15 active programs, including multiple programs across each
collaboration. Our current generation of pipeline molecules integrate learnings in how to best utilize our technology and optimize the
design of product candidates to enhance probability of success.
8
CytomX Pipeline of Clinical and Pre-Clinical Molecules Including All Partnered Programs as of March 2024
The successful development of our product candidates involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and
preliminary or interim results of our studies may not be predictive of the final results from those trials and the results of earlier studies
and trials may not be predictive of future trial results. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the
development of product candidates. If our PROBODY therapeutic technology and product candidates generally prove to be
ineffective, unsafe or commercially unviable, it would have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects. See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with our product candidates
and our research and development projects.
Our PROBODY Platform
Localization of therapeutic activity of potent biologics within disease tissue is of increasing interest in the biopharmaceutical industry
due to the desire to maximize the activity of biologics while reducing their toxicities. We call our approach to therapeutic localization
of biologics our PROBODY therapeutic platform. A PROBODY therapeutic candidate consists of three components: an active anti-
cancer biologic, a mask for the biologic, and a protease-cleavable linker which connects the mask to the biologic. The mask is a
peptide designed to disguise the active binding site of the biologic to prevent it from binding to the target present on healthy tissue.
PROBODY therapeutic candidates are produced as a single protein through biologic production technologies. The Company has had
sustained research efforts and continuous innovation around the PROBODY Platform and has invested significant resources to
develop the technology. As of January 2024, our fully- and co-owned patent portfolio contains at least 250 granted patents and at least
400 pending patent applications. The following graphic depicts the three components of a PROBODY therapeutic candidate:
9
Depiction of the structure of a PROBODY therapeutic candidate and a protease interacting with the PROBODY candidate to cleave
the linker and activate the molecule
When a PROBODY therapeutic candidate enters a tumor, it encounters proteases, which are enzymes that cleave proteins and have
increased activity in the tumor microenvironment. The proteases in the tumor cleave the linker, releasing the mask and allowing the
biologic to bind to the target on the tumor. The following graphic depicts the way a PROBODY therapeutic candidate is designed to
be activated by proteases:
Depiction of how a PROBODY therapeutic is designed to enter the tumor microenvironment (left), be activated by protease cleavage
to remove the mask (middle), thereby enabling the released biologic to bind to the tumor target (right)
Proteases play an essential role in many aspects of normal physiology, such as digestion of food in the gastrointestinal tract, wound
healing and metabolic function. However, uncontrolled protease activity can lead to destruction of essential proteins and tissues.
Therefore, proteases are normally very tightly regulated by multiple mechanisms, with only small amounts of extracellular protease
activity being detectable in healthy tissues. In contrast, it has been well documented that proteases are not only present, but also
activated, in virtually all types of tumors, playing a key role in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. PROBODY therapeutics are
designed to be activated in this protease-rich tumor microenvironment, but not in healthy tissue where proteases are under tight
control. Consequently, we believe that toxicities that arise from the binding of a biologic therapeutic to a target in healthy tissues can
be reduced, while biological activity against the tumor where it is desired can be preserved. We and our partners have demonstrated
the potential of our PROBODY platform across multiple modalities, including ADCs, cancer immunotherapy, TCEs, and cytokines.
We believe that our multi-modality PROBODY therapeutic platform provides the following key advantages:
•
A novel biologic therapeutic class enabled by our proprietary platform. By pioneering a novel class of conditionally
activated, localized biologic candidates, we are a leader in the field and have established conditional activation as a
strategic area of biologics research and development. Our technology platform is supported by more than a decade of
10
research and a strong intellectual property portfolio. More than 500 patients with diverse tumor types have been treated
with our PROBODY therapeutic candidates in multiple clinical studies, providing clinical proof of concept and a deep
knowledge base for translational advancement and optimization of our drug candidates and platform.
•
•
•
•
A broad multi-modality technology for improvement of therapeutic index. By engineering our therapeutics to selectively
activate in the tumor microenvironment, our PROBODY product candidates have the potential to improve safety and
tolerability. We are applying our technology to some of the biggest challenges in oncology biologics research and
development today. Namely, the validation of potential new targets for ADCs, opening solid tumor opportunities for
TCEs, and increasing the therapeutic index for immunotherapies such as cytokines and CPIs.
Ability to combine more effectively with other therapies. We believe the therapeutic index and tumor specificity of our
drug candidates have the potential to reduce the dose-limiting toxicities observed in combination therapies and thus enable
new combinations with other cancer therapies that are difficult or impossible to use.
Molecular tunability and applicability across many targets. Our proprietary masking technologies, leveraging affinity-
based and steric approaches and broad protease substrate libraries, allow for unique customization of large drug candidate
pools from which high potential clinical candidates are selected. Our technology has the potential to address many
different molecular targets expressed by a wide range of tumor types, including targets that are difficult to address due to
their widespread expression on healthy cells. EpCAM is an example of such a target, for which we have developed CX-
2051, a conditionally activated PROBODY ADC.
Deep knowledge of the tumor protease microenvironment. Our extensive protease biology expertise, driven by state-of-
the-art experimental and computational methods, allows us to employ multiple approaches to generate novel targeted,
multi-selective, and potentially indication-tailored protease-cleavable substrates.
Our Collaborations
We believe that the PROBODY platform has broad applicability across many cancer types, biological targets and antibody modalities.
We have leveraged strategic partnering to (a) extend the reach of our technology, and (b) bring in significant non-dilutive capital into
the Company. Since 2013, we have entered into several collaborations, including with Amgen, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb,
ImmunoGen, Moderna, and Regeneron to enable development of certain PROBODY therapeutics. In constructing each of these
collaborations, our primary objectives are to collaborate with leading biopharmaceutical players to realize the potential of PROBODY
therapeutics, gain meaningful near-term funding or access technology to enable the advancement of our wholly owned PROBODY
therapeutics pipeline, and broaden the number of PROBODY therapeutics that ultimately reach the clinic.
AbbVie Ireland Unlimited Company
In April 2016, we entered into two agreements with AbbVie, a CD71 Co-Development and Licensing Agreement (the “CD71
Agreement”) and the Discovery Agreement (the Discovery Agreement, together with the CD71 Agreement are collectively referred to
as the “AbbVie Agreements”). Under the terms of the CD71 Agreement, we and AbbVie were co-developing CX-2029, an ADC
against CD71, with CytomX being responsible for pre-clinical and early clinical development. AbbVie was responsible for later
development and commercialization, with global late-stage development costs shared between the two companies from Phase 3
onwards.
Under the CD71 Agreement, we received an upfront payment of $20.0 million in April 2016, and a milestone payment of $40.0
million in May 2020 for completion of the dose-escalation phase of the ongoing Phase 1/2 study. In March 2023, AbbVie notified us
that it would not advance CX-2029 into additional clinical studies and terminated the CD71 Agreement. CytomX re-acquired full
rights to CX-2029 and in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company decided not to make any further significant investments in the CX-
2029 solid tumor program in the near-term.
Under the Discovery Agreement, we received an upfront payment of $10.0 million in April 2016 and AbbVie received exclusive
worldwide rights to develop and commercialize conditionally activated ADCs against up to two targets, one of which was selected in
March 2017 and the second of which was selected in July 2019. We received an additional upfront payment of $10.0 million in July
2019 upon the selection by AbbVie of the second target and the satisfaction of certain performance conditions under the CD71
Agreement.
As of December 31, 2022, research on the two discovery targets concluded and in March 2023, AbbVie terminated the Discovery
Agreement.
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Amgen, Inc.
In September 2017, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Amgen Agreement”) with Amgen. Pursuant to the
Amgen Agreement, we received an upfront payment of $40.0 million in October 2017. Concurrent with the entry into the Amgen
Agreement, Amgen purchased 1,156,069 shares of our common stock for $20.0 million.
Under the terms of the Amgen Agreement, we and Amgen are co-developing a conditionally activated T-cell engaging bispecific
therapeutic targeting EGFR (“EGFR Products”). We are responsible for early-stage development of EGFR Products and all related
costs (up to certain pre-set limits based on clinical study size). Amgen will be responsible for late-stage development,
commercialization, and all related costs of EGFR Products. Following early-stage development, we will have the right to elect to
participate financially in the global co-development of EGFR Products with Amgen, during which we would bear certain of the
worldwide development costs for EGFR Products and Amgen would bear the rest of such costs (the “EGFR Co-Development
Option”). If we exercise our EGFR Co-Development Option, we will share in somewhat less than 50% of the profit and losses from
sales of such EGFR Products in the U.S., subject to certain caps, offsets, and deferrals. If we choose not to exercise our EGFR Co-
Development Option, we will not bear any costs of later stage development. We are eligible to receive up to $460.0 million in
development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments for EGFR Products, and royalties in the low-double digit to mid-teen
percentage of worldwide commercial sales, provided that if we exercise our EGFR Co-Development option, we shall only receive
royalties in the low-double digit to mid-teen percentage of commercial sales outside of the United States.
In October 2021, we and Amgen executed an amendment to the Amgen Agreement primarily to (1) extend the target selection date for
Amgen to select its additional targets for research and development, and (2) reduce the total number of milestone events and increase
the total amount of milestone payments for EGFR Products.
Amgen also has the right to select a total of up to three targets, including the two additional targets discussed below. We and Amgen
will collaborate in the research and development of conditionally activated T-cell engaging bispecifics therapies directed against such
targets. Amgen has selected one such target (the “Amgen Other Product”). If Amgen exercises its option within a specified period of
time, it can select two such additional targets (the “Amgen Option Products” and, together with the Amgen Other Product, the
“Amgen Products”). Except with respect to preclinical activities to be conducted by us, Amgen will be responsible, at its expense, for
the development, manufacture, and commercialization of all Amgen Products. If Amgen exercises all of its options and advances all
three of the Amgen Products, we are eligible to receive up to $950.0 million in upfront, development, regulatory, and commercial
milestones and tiered high single-digit to low-teen percentage royalties.
We had the option to select from programs specified in the Amgen Agreement, an existing pre-clinical stage T-cell Engager product
from the Amgen pre-clinical pipeline. In March 2018, CytomX selected the program and this program is currently in preclinical
development. We will be responsible, at our expense, for converting this program to a conditionally activated T-cell Engager product,
and thereafter, be responsible for development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the product (“CytomX Product”). Amgen is
eligible to receive up to $203.0 million in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments for the CytomX Product, and
tiered mid-single digit to low double-digit percentage royalties.
Astellas Pharma Inc
In March 2020, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Astellas Agreement”) with Astellas, pursuant to which
we and Astellas will collaborate on the research, development and commercialization of T-cell engaging bispecific antibody products
(“Products”) directed to CD3 and selected tumor antigen targets using our PROBODY® platform and other proprietary technology.
Under the Astellas Agreement, we granted Astellas an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license to develop and commercialize
Products in all fields. Astellas may select up to four targets to develop, and had an option to expand to six targets. We will lead
preclinical research and discovery activities up to clinical candidate selection for Products directed against up to four targets. Astellas
will lead preclinical and clinical development of and regulatory approval for all Products. Astellas will be responsible for
commercializing each Product, provided that we will have the option to elect to co-commercialize certain Products with Astellas in the
United States, subject to the terms of a separate commercialization agreement to be entered into between us and Astellas.
Under the terms of the Astellas Agreement, we received an upfront payment of $80 million, and Astellas will be responsible for
funding the cost of preclinical research and discovery activities of both parties for all Products and for funding the cost of
development and commercialization of all Products worldwide. Under the agreement, we are eligible to receive future preclinical,
clinical and commercial milestones of approximately $1.6 billion. Astellas will pay us tiered royalties on global net sales of Products
from high single-digit to mid-teens percentages, subject to certain reductions. Astellas’ royalty obligations continue with respect to
each country and each Product until the later of (i) the date on which such Product is no longer covered by certain intellectual property
12
rights, (ii) the 10th anniversary of the first commercial sale of such product in such country, and (iii) the loss of regulatory exclusivity
for such Product in such country.
In addition, for a specified number of targets, at a pre-specified time prior to the initiation of the first pivotal study of a Product
directed against such target, we will have an option to elect to co-fund certain subsequently initiated clinical trials for such Product. If
we opt in, we would be responsible for a pre-determined portion of the costs of such trials, subject to specified caps, deferrals and
offsets. We would then have the option to elect to co-commercialize such Products in the United States. For any such Products, in lieu
of royalties in the United States, we will receive less than 40% of the profits for such Products in the United States and tiered low
double-digit to mid-teens percentage royalties on net sales of such Products outside of the United States, subject to certain reductions.
In January 2023, Astellas nominated the first clinical candidate under the collaboration which resulted in a $5.0 million milestone
payment to CytomX.
Bristol Myers Squibb Company
In May 2014, we and Bristol Myers Squibb entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “BMS Agreement”) to discover
and develop compounds for use in human therapeutics aimed at multiple immuno-oncology targets using our PROBODY therapeutic
technology.
Under the terms of the BMS Agreement, we granted Bristol Myers Squibb exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize
PROBODY therapeutics for up to four oncology targets, two of which were selected upon the execution of the BMS Agreement.
Pursuant to the BMS Agreement, we received an upfront payment of $50.0 million and were entitled to receive contingent payments
in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, which can be reduced by any such payments received or by any
termination of targets being pursued. We are entitled to royalty payments in the mid-single-digit to low double-digits percentage from
potential future sales. We also received research and development service fees. Bristol Myers Squibb has terminated certain targets
from the BMS Agreement, as described below.
In January 2016, Bristol Myers Squibb selected the third target pursuant to the BMS Agreement and paid us $10.0 million. In
December 2016, Bristol Myers Squibb selected the fourth and its final target pursuant to the BMS Agreement and paid us $15.0
million. In December 2016, Bristol Myers Squibb selected BMS-986249, a CTLA-4 PROBODY therapeutic, as a clinical candidate
pursuant to the BMS Agreement, which triggered a $2.0 million pre-clinical milestone payment to us. In November 2017, Bristol
Myers Squibb received acceptance of the IND for BMS-986249 from the FDA, which triggered a $10.0 million milestone payment to
us. Bristol Myers Squibb recently advanced BMS-986249 into a randomized Phase 2 cohort expansion in patients with metastatic
melanoma in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab as part of the larger clinical trial, triggering, in February 2020, a $10.0
million milestone payment from Bristol Myers Squibb to us. This study has been modified to include three additional single-arm
cohorts: advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and unresectable locally advanced or
metastatic TNBC.
In March 2017, we and Bristol Myers Squibb entered into Amendment Number 1 to Extend the BMS Agreement (“Amendment 1”).
Amendment 1 granted Bristol Myers Squibb exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize PROBODY therapeutics for up
to six additional oncology targets and two non-oncology targets. Under the terms of Amendment 1, we continued to collaborate with
Bristol Myers Squibb to discover and conduct preclinical development of PROBODY therapeutics against targets selected by Bristol
Myers Squibb. Pursuant to Amendment 1, we received an upfront payment of $200.0 million and were eligible to receive contingent
payments for development, regulatory and sales milestones. We were also entitled to tiered mid-single to low double-digit percentage
of royalties from potential future sales.
In September 2019, Bristol Myers Squibb initiated the dose escalation phase of a Phase 1/2a clinical trial of a second anti-CTLA-4-
directed therapeutic, BMS-986288, based on a modified version of ipilimumab, administered as monotherapy and in combination with
nivolumab in patients with selected advanced solid tumors. In February 2023, BMS updated its pipeline to prioritize the a-fucosylated
PROBODY anti-CTLA-4 molecule, BMS-986288 as its lead next-generation CTLA-4 program and removed BMS-986249 from its
pipeline.
In February 2021, we and Bristol Myers Squibb entered into Amendment Number 2 to amend the BMS Agreement (“Amendment 2”),
as amended by Amendment 1. Pursuant to Amendment 2, the available targets under Amendment 1 were reduced to five oncology
targets. Under the terms of Amendment 2, the period for target selection was extended and in 2022, all remaining targets were
selected. We will continue to collaborate with Bristol Myers Squibb to discover and conduct preclinical development of PROBODY
therapeutics against targets selected by Bristol Myers Squibb over the estimated research period, which is projected to end in April
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2025. Pursuant to Amendment 2, we are eligible to receive contingent payments for development, regulatory and sales milestones. We
are also entitled to tiered mid-single- to low double-digit percentage of royalties from potential future sales.
In October 2022, the Company and Bristol Myers Squibb amended the BMS Agreement and entered into Amendment Number 3
(“Amendment 3”), as previously amended by Amendment 1 and Amendment 2, to clarify the rights and restrictions of certain new
proprietary antibodies that the parties exchanged. There were no substantive changes to each party's performance obligations. As of
December 31, 2023, the Company was eligible for up to approximately $2.1 billion in contingent payments for development,
regulatory and sales milestones based on the ongoing collaboration projects, including the CTLA-4 program, with Bristol Myers
Squibb.
On March 6, 2024, following a Bristol Myers Squibb corporate portfolio prioritization process, Bristol Myers Squibb notified CytomX
that it does not intend to continue the development of BMS-986288 beyond the current Phase 2 study and terminated its work on the
CTLA-4 target under the collaboration. As of March 6, 2024, CytomX is eligible to receive approximately $1.8 billion in contingent
payments for development, regulatory and sales milestones for the ongoing collaboration programs.
ImmunoGen, Inc. (acquired by AbbVie in 2024)
In January 2014, CytomX and ImmunoGen entered into the Research Collaboration Agreement (the “ImmunoGen Research
Agreement”). The ImmunoGen Research Agreement provides us with the right to use ImmunoGen’s ADC technology in combination
with our PROBODY therapeutic technology to create a conditionally activated ADC directed at one specified target under a research
license, and to subsequently obtain an exclusive, worldwide development and commercialization license to use ImmunoGen’s ADC
technology to develop and commercialize such conditionally activated ADCs. Under the agreement, we provided ImmunoGen with
the rights to our PROBODY therapeutic technology to create conditionally activated ADCs directed at two targets under the research
license and to subsequently obtain exclusive, worldwide development and commercialization licenses to develop and commercialize
such conditionally activated ADCs. In February 2016, we exercised our option to obtain a development and commercialization license
for praluzatamab ravtansine (CX-2009) (the “CX-2009 License”). In December 2017, ImmunoGen exercised an option to obtain a
development and commercialization license pursuant to the ImmunoGen Research Agreement (the “ImmunoGen 2017 License”) for a
target, EpCAM. At the end of 2019, as a result of a strategic restructuring by ImmunoGen and its decision to out-license certain
programs, we obtained a worldwide, exclusive, sublicensable license to the EpCAM conditionally activated ADC program from
ImmunoGen (the “ImmunoGen 2019 License”) and the ImmunoGen 2017 license ended.
Under the ImmunoGen 2019 License, we gained worldwide development and commercialization rights to the EpCAM conditionally
activated ADC program and, in return, we made an upfront payment of $7.5 million, and we will pay up to $35.0 million in certain
clinical development milestones and up to $320.0 million in regulatory approval and commercial milestones payments, if achieved.
Immunogen is also entitled to royalties on product sales ranging from the mid-to-high single digits percentages.
Moderna, Inc.
In December 2022, the “Company entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Moderna Agreement”) with Moderna,
pursuant to which the Company and Moderna will collaborate on the creation of mRNA-based conditionally-activated investigational
therapies utilizing the Company's PROBODY® therapeutic platform and Moderna’s mRNA and lipid nanoparticle technologies. The
collaboration will leverage core scientific advances at Moderna and the Company to open up the strategy of encoding potent, masked
biologics through mRNA technologies, for the potential treatment of oncology and non-oncology conditions. The Company and
Moderna will collaborate on a specified number of preclinical research and discovery programs (“Moderna Collaboration Programs”)
within a specified period under the Collaboration and License Agreement.
Under the Moderna Agreement, the Company granted Moderna an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license under certain
Company intellectual property to develop, manufacture, commercialize and otherwise exploit certain products (“Moderna Licensed
Products”) for all human and non-human diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses, subject to certain exceptions with respect to
Licensed Products within certain Collaboration Programs.
Under the terms of the Moderna Agreement, Moderna made an upfront payment to the Company of $35 million, including $5 million
of pre-paid research funding. CytomX will continue to receive research funding and the Company will be eligible to receive future
development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to $1.2 billion for all Moderna Licensed Products in total under
the Moderna Agreement. Moderna will pay the Company tiered royalties on global net sales of Moderna Licensed Products from high
single digit to low-teen percentages, subject to certain reductions. Moderna's royalty obligations continue with respect to each country
and each Product until the later of (i) the date on which such Licensed Product is no longer covered by certain patent rights, (ii) the
10th anniversary of the first commercial sale of such product in such country, and (iii) the loss of regulatory exclusivity for such
Moderna Licensed Product in such country.
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The Moderna Agreement also provides Moderna with a one-time option to participate in a future equity financing by the Company
subject to certain terms, conditions and regulatory requirements.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Company and Regeneron entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Regeneron Agreement”) in November 2022,
to collaborate on the creation of conditionally activated investigational bispecific cancer therapies utilizing the Company’s
PROBODY® therapeutic platform and Regeneron’s Veloci-Bi® bispecific antibody development platform. The Company and
Regeneron will collaborate on preclinical research and discovery activities for initially agreed upon collaboration programs
(“Regeneron Collaboration Programs”) with an option to include additional Collaboration Programs (“Additional Collaboration
Program Option”).
Under the Regeneron Agreement, the Company granted Regeneron an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license under certain
Company intellectual property to develop, manufacture, commercialize and otherwise exploit licensed products (“Regeneron Licensed
Products”) for all human and non-human diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses in oncology.
Regeneron is responsible for funding the cost of preclinical research and discovery activities of both parties for all Regeneron
Licensed Products and for funding the cost of development, manufacture and commercialization of all Regeneron Licensed Products
worldwide. Pursuant to the Regeneron Agreement, Regeneron made an upfront payment of $30.0 million to the Company. Upon the
achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones and commercial milestones, the Company is eligible to receive
milestone payments of up to approximately $0.8 billion for the initial Regeneron Collaboration Programs. In addition, the Company
will receive research and development funding for the work related to the collaboration. If Regeneron exercises its Additional
Collaboration Program Options, the Company would be eligible to receive additional upfront payments, development and regulatory
milestones payments, and commercial milestone payments of up to approximately $1.2 billion in aggregate for the additional
Regeneron Collaboration Programs, which amount is exclusive of the $0.8 billion for the initial Regeneron Collaboration Programs.
The Company is also entitled to tiered royalties from high-single digit to low-teen percentage royalties from potential future sales,
subject to certain reductions. Regeneron's royalty obligations continue with respect to each country and each Regeneron Licensed
Product until the later of (i) the date on which such Regeneron Licensed Product is no longer covered by certain patent rights, (ii) the
10th anniversary of the first commercial sale of such product in such country, and (iii) the loss of regulatory exclusivity for such
Regeneron Licensed Product in such country.
Manufacturing
Our PROBODY therapeutic candidates are designed to be produced as fully recombinant biologic prodrugs. Our PROBODY
therapeutic candidates are also designed to maintain the manufacturability benefits of biologics such as antibodies and leverage
manufacturing process technologies used for biologics production in the industry. We conduct cell line development and process
development both in-house and in collaboration with contract development and manufacturing organizations (“CMO”). CMOs are
responsible for manufacturing of drug substance and clinical drug product materials.
To date, we have generally been able to successfully manufacture our investigational product candidates including for CX-904, for our
ongoing early-stage clinical trials with contract manufacturers. Our partner, Bristol Myers Squibb, has also been successful in
independently manufacturing drug product for BMS-986249 and BMS-986288. However, the supply chain for the manufacturing of
each of our product candidates is complicated and can involve many parties, including for CX-904, CX-2051 and CX-801. We do not
own manufacturing facilities for producing such supplies and rely on third-party contract manufacturers to manufacture our clinical
trial and preclinical study product supplies. Our clinical trial manufacturing contractors and suppliers are our sole source for their
respective manufacturing and supplies. Failure of any of these contractors could affect our ability to have clinical trial material
available when needed and could result in substantial delay of our clinical trials. For example, beginning in October 2023, one of our
contract manufacturers for CX-2051 experienced production failures. Although we are taking steps to manage our long-term supply of
CX-2051, there can be no assurance that we will not have future production failures, which could affect our ability to conduct our
trials for CX-2051 or any other clinical trial drug candidates, including CX-801 and CX-904, on our planned timeline or at all. We do
not have any long-term contracts and we do not currently have an alternative to any of our third-party contract manufacturers.
Consequently, there can be no assurance that our preclinical and clinical development product supplies will not be limited, interrupted,
or of satisfactory quality or continue to be available at acceptable prices. In particular, any replacement of any of our third-party
contract manufacturers could require significant effort and expertise because there may be a limited number of qualified replacements.
In addition, we may encounter issues with transferring technology to a new third-party manufacturer, and we may encounter
regulatory delays if we need to move the manufacturing of our products from one third-party manufacturer to another.
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In order to conduct later-stage clinical trials of our product candidates, and eventually, if approved, commercial products, we will need
to manufacture them in larger quantities. We, or any manufacturing partners, may be unable to successfully increase the
manufacturing scale and capacity for any of our product candidates in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all. Additionally, in
some cases, we may have to start late-stage trials with our earlier clinical trial drug product and later switch to the late-stage or
commercial drug product in trial. In such cases, the FDA will require us to complete bridging studies to compare the earlier stage
material with the late-stage or commercial material to assure comparability between the earlier trial material and the late-stage or
commercial material. Changing the formulation and scale up process is a complicated and difficult task and there can be no
assurances that the changes we make to the drug product and manufacturing process will be successful or completed in a timely
manner or that the FDA will not require additional development steps or studies.
In-Licenses
License from UCSB
In August 2010, we entered into an agreement with UCSB, that grants us an exclusive license, with the right to sublicense, under the
patent rights owned by UCSB covering mask and screening technologies relating to the identification and discovery of pro-protein
biologics, including masks and substrates, for the identification of pro-proteins, for use in the fields of therapeutics, in vivo
diagnostics, and prophylactics (the “UCSB Agreement”). The UCSB Agreement also grants us an exclusive license, with the right to
sublicense, under UCSB’s interest in certain patent rights we co-own with UCSB covering PROBODY antibodies and other pro-
proteins in the fields of therapeutics, in vivo diagnostics and prophylactics.
We are obligated to pay to UCSB royalties on net sales of licensed products in the low single digit percentages, subject to annual
minimum amounts as well as certain reductions. We are required to make milestone payments to UCSB on the accomplishment of
certain milestones totaling up to $1.1 million for each of the first two indications for each licensed product consisting of a molecule or
compound covered by the licensed patent rights. We were also obligated to make a payment to UCSB upon the first occurrence of an
IPO or change of control. If the Company sublicenses its rights under the UCSB Agreement, it must pay UCSB a percentage of our
total sublicense revenues ranging from the mid-single to mid-teen percentages, which total amount would be first reduced by the
aggregate amount of certain research and development related expenses incurred by the Company and other permitted deductions.
License from ImmunoGen
Under the ImmunoGen 2019 License, we gained rights to the EpCAM conditionally activated ADC program and, in return, we made
an upfront payment of $7.5 million, and we will pay up to $35.0 million in certain clinical development milestones, and up to $320.0
million in regulatory approval and commercialization milestone payments, if achieved. Immunogen is also entitled to royalties on any
product sales ranging from the mid-to-high single digits percentages.
Competition
CytomX is pioneering a new potential class of potent, anti-cancer biologic therapeutics – the PROBODY conditionally activated
therapeutic platform. The biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, including the ADC and immuno-oncology subsectors, are
characterized by rapid evolution of technologies, fierce competition and strong defense of intellectual property. Any product
candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will have to compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may
become available in the future. While we believe that our proprietary PROBODY platform and scientific expertise in the field of
biologics and immuno-oncology provide us with competitive advantages, a wide variety of institutions, including large
biopharmaceutical companies, specialty biotechnology companies, academic research departments and public and private research
institutions, are actively developing potentially competitive products and technologies. We face substantial competition from
biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies developing biopharmaceutical products, particularly with respect to ADC, TCE and
immuno-oncology therapeutics, where competition is intense and rapidly evolving. These competitors generally fall within the
following categories:
Masking and conditional activation: Several companies, including AbbVie, Adagene, Amgen, BioAtla, Halozyme Therapeutics,
Harpoon Therapeutics, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Werewolf Therapeutics, Janux Therapeutics and Xilio Therapeutics are
exploring, researching or developing antibody masking and/or conditional activation strategies, which could compete with our
PROBODY platform.
Antibody-drug conjugates: Several large pharmaceutical companies, such as AbbVie, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer,
Roche, Merck and Takeda Pharmaceutical are researching, developing, and in some cases, commercializing ADCs. In addition,
numerous smaller companies have ongoing efforts in the space.
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Cancer immunotherapies: Cancer immunotherapy is one of the most competitive and fastest growing segments of the
pharmaceutical industry. Almost every large pharmaceutical company is developing or commercializing cancer immunotherapies,
including Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi. In
addition, many large and mid-sized biotech companies such as BeiGene, Incyte, Nektar Therapeutics, and Alkermes have ongoing
efforts in cancer immunotherapy. Numerous smaller companies are also working in this space.
T-cell engaging therapies: Several large pharmaceutics companies, such as Amgen, Novartis, and Roche, have on-going efforts in
the field of T-cell engagers. In addition, several mid-sized biotech companies such as MacroGenics and Xencor, as well as numerous
smaller companies, including Janux Therapeutics, have ongoing efforts in TCEs.
Cytokines: Several companies have ongoing efforts or molecules in development in the field of cytokines including Bristol Myers
Squibb, ImmunityBio, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Nektar Therapeutics, Novartis, Sanofi, Werewolf Therapeutics, Xencor, and
Xilio Therapeutics.
Many of our competitors, either alone or with strategic partners, have substantially greater financial, technical and human resources
than we do. Accordingly, our competitors may be more successful than us in obtaining approval for treatments and achieving
widespread market acceptance, rendering our treatments obsolete or non-competitive. Accelerated merger and acquisition activity in
the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of
our competitors. These companies also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel,
establishing clinical study sites and patient registration for clinical studies and acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary
for, our programs. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative
arrangements with large and established companies. Our commercial opportunity could be substantially limited in the event that our
competitors develop and commercialize products that are more effective, safer, less toxic, more convenient or less expensive than our
comparable products. In geographies that are critical to our commercial success, competitors may also obtain regulatory approvals
before us, resulting in our competitors building a strong market position in advance of our products’ entry. We believe the factors
determining the success of our programs will be the efficacy, safety and convenience of our product candidates.
Intellectual Property
We strive to protect and enhance the proprietary technology, inventions, and improvements that are commercially important to our
business, including seeking, maintaining, and defending patent rights, whether developed internally or licensed from third parties. Our
policy 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, platforms and
product candidates that are important to the development and implementation of our business. Our patent portfolio is intended to
cover, but is not limited to, our technology platforms, our product candidates and components thereof, their methods of use and
processes for their manufacture, our proprietary reagents and assays, and any other inventions that are commercially important to our
business. We also rely on trade secret protection of our confidential information and know-how relating to our proprietary technology,
platforms and product candidates, continuing innovation, and in-licensing opportunities to develop, strengthen, and maintain our
proprietary position in our PROBODY platform and product candidates. We expect to rely on data exclusivity, market exclusivity,
patent term adjustment and patent term extensions when available. Our commercial success may depend in part on our ability to
obtain and maintain patent and other proprietary protection for our technology, inventions, and improvements; to preserve the
confidentiality of our trade secrets; to maintain our licenses to use intellectual property owned or controlled by third parties; to defend
and enforce our proprietary rights, including our patents; to defend against and challenge the assertion by third parties of their
purported intellectual property rights; and to operate without the unauthorized infringement of valid and enforceable patents and other
proprietary rights of third parties.
We believe that we have a strong global intellectual property position and substantial know-how and trade secrets relating to our
PROBODY therapeutic technology, platform and product candidates. As of January 2024, our patent portfolio contains at least 250
granted patents (some of which are co-owned with a third party) and at least 400 pending patent applications (some of which are co-
owned with a third party). We have exclusively licensed UCSB’s interest in the co-owned patent family covering PROBODY
technology in the fields of therapeutics, in vivo diagnostics and prophylactics.
These patents and patent applications include claims directed to our PROBODY platform technology, including PROBODY drug
conjugates, bispecific and other multi-specific PROBODY therapeutics (including T-cell engaging bispecific PROBODY
therapeutics), protease cleavable linkers, and cancer immunotherapy PROBODY therapeutics.
In addition, we have exclusively licensed a patent portfolio of patent families from UCSB patents and patent applications that cover
compositions and methods related to screening for and identification of masks and protease-cleavable linkers that we have
incorporated into our PROBODY therapeutics and may incorporate into future PROBODY therapeutics.
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As for the PROBODY platform, product candidates and processes we develop and commercialize, in the normal course of business,
we intend to pursue, where appropriate, patent protection or trade secret protection relating to compositions, methods of manufacture,
assay methods, methods of use, treatment of indications, dosing and formulations. We may also pursue patent protection with respect
to product development processes and technology.
We continually assess and refine our intellectual property strategy as we develop new platform technologies and product candidates.
To that end, we are prepared to file additional patent applications if our intellectual property strategy requires such filings, or where
we seek to adapt to competition or seize business opportunities. Further, we are prepared to file patent applications, as we consider
appropriate under the circumstances, relating to the new technologies that we develop. In addition to filing and prosecuting patent
applications in the United States, we often file counterpart patent applications in the European Union and in additional countries where
we believe such foreign filing is likely to be beneficial.
Our currently issued patents will likely expire on dates ranging from 2028 to 2037, unless we receive patent term extension or
adjustment as might be available under applicable law. If patents are issued on our pending patent applications, the resulting patents
are projected to expire on dates ranging from 2028 to 2041, unless we receive patent term extension or adjustment. However, the
actual protection afforded by a patent varies on a product-by-product basis, from country-to-country, and depends upon many factors,
including the type of patent, the scope of its coverage, the availability of regulatory-related extensions, the availability of legal
remedies in a particular country, and the validity and enforceability of the patent.
All of our patents and patent applications are subject to risks and uncertainties under U.S. and foreign law. We also rely on trademark
registration to protect our trademarks. For a more comprehensive discussion of risks related to our proprietary technology, inventions,
improvements, platforms and product candidates, please see the section entitled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Intellectual
Property.”
We also rely on trade secret protection for our confidential and proprietary information. It is our policy to require our employees,
consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other advisors to execute confidentiality agreements upon the
commencement of employment or consulting relationships with us. In the case of employees, the agreements provide that all
inventions conceived by the individual, and which are related to our current or planned business or research and development or made
during normal working hours, on our premises or using our equipment or proprietary information, are our exclusive property. In many
cases our confidentiality and other agreements with consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other
advisors require them to assign or grant us licenses to inventions they invent as a result of the work or services they render under such
agreements or grant us an option to negotiate a license to use such inventions.
Government Regulation and Product Approval
Governmental authorities in the U.S., at the federal, state and local level, and other countries extensively regulate, among other things,
the research, development, testing, manufacture, labeling, packaging, promotion, storage, advertising, distribution, marketing and
export and import of products such as those we are developing. Our product candidates are subject to regulation in the U.S. as
biologics, which must be approved by the FDA through the BLA process before they may be legally marketed in the U.S. and will be
subject to similar requirements in other countries prior to marketing in those countries. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals
and the subsequent compliance with applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of
substantial time and financial resources.
U.S. Government Regulation
In the U.S., the FDA regulates biologics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) and the Public Health Service
Act (“PHSA”), and their respective implementing regulations.
BLA Approval Process
The process required by the FDA before a biologic may be marketed in the U.S. generally involves the following:
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completion of nonclinical laboratory tests, animal studies and formulation studies conducted according to good laboratory
practices (“GLPs”), and other applicable regulations;
submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin;
approval by an institutional review board (“IRB”) or ethics committee at each clinical site before the trial is commenced;
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performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials according to good clinical practices (“GCPs”), to
establish the safety, purity and potency of the product candidate for its intended use;
preparation and submission to the FDA of a BLA after completion of all pivotal trials;
satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the product
candidate is produced to assess compliance with current good manufacturing practices (“cGMPs”) to assure that the
facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the product candidate’s continued safety, purity and potency, and
of potential inspections of selected clinical investigation sites to assess compliance with GCPs; and
FDA review and approval of the BLA to permit commercial marketing of the product for its particular labeled uses in the
United States.
Preclinical and Clinical Studies
Once a biologic product candidate is identified for development, it enters the preclinical, or nonclinical, testing stage. Nonclinical tests
include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, toxicity and formulation, as well as animal studies. An IND sponsor must submit
the results of the nonclinical tests, together with manufacturing information and analytical data, to the FDA as part of the IND. Some
nonclinical testing may continue even after the IND is submitted. In addition to including the results of the nonclinical studies, the
IND will also include a protocol detailing, among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, the parameters to be used in
monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated if the first phase lends itself to an efficacy evaluation. The IND
automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA, within the 30-day time period, places the IND on
clinical hold. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before clinical trials can begin. A
clinical hold may occur at any time while an IND is active and may affect one or more specific studies or all studies conducted under
the IND.
All clinical trials must be conducted under the supervision of one or more qualified investigators in accordance with GCPs. Clinical
trials must be conducted under protocols detailing the objectives of the trial, dosing procedures, research subject selection and
exclusion criteria and the safety and effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol, and any subsequent material amendment to
the protocol, must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. While the IND is active, progress reports summarizing the results of
the clinical trials and nonclinical studies performed since the last progress report, among other information, must be submitted at least
annually to the FDA, and written IND safety reports must be submitted to the FDA and investigators for serious and unexpected
suspected adverse events, findings from other studies suggesting a significant risk to humans exposed to the same or similar drugs,
findings from animal or in vitro testing suggesting a significant risk to humans, and any clinically important increased incidence of a
serious suspected adverse reaction compared to that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure.
Furthermore, an independent IRB for each site proposing to conduct each clinical trial must review and approve the plan for any
clinical trial and its informed consent form before the clinical trial begins at that site and must monitor the study until completion.
Some studies also include oversight by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical study sponsor, generally
known as a data safety monitoring board, which provides authorization for whether or not a study may move forward at designated
check points based on access to certain data from the study and may halt the clinical trial if it determines that there is an unacceptable
safety risk for subjects or other grounds, such as no demonstration of efficacy. Depending on its charter, this group may determine
whether a trial may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the trial. The FDA or the sponsor
may suspend 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 has been associated with unexpected serious
harm to patients. There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical trials and completed clinical trial results to
public registries.
Human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap or be combined.
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Phase 1—The product candidate is initially introduced into healthy human subjects and tested for safety, dosage tolerance,
absorption, metabolism, distribution and elimination. In the case of some therapeutic candidates for severe or life-
threatening diseases, such as cancer, especially when the product candidate may be inherently too toxic to ethically
administer to healthy volunteers, the initial human testing is often conducted in patients.
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Phase 2—The product candidate is administered to a limited patient population with the specified disease or condition to
identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted
diseases and to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage.
Phase 3—The product candidate is administered to an expanded patient population to further evaluate dosage, clinical
efficacy and safety, generally at geographically dispersed clinical study sites. These studies are intended to establish the
overall risk-benefit ratio of the product and provide an adequate basis for product approval.
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, FDA
may mandate the performance of such “Phase 4” clinical trials as a condition of approval for a BLA
During the development of a new biologic product candidate, sponsors are given opportunities to meet with the FDA at certain points;
specifically, prior to the submission of an IND, at the end of Phase 2 and before a BLA is submitted. Meetings at other times may be
requested. These meetings can provide an opportunity for the sponsor to share information about the data gathered to date and for the
FDA to provide advice on the next phase of development. Sponsors typically use the meeting at the end of Phase 2 to discuss their
Phase 2 clinical results and present their plans for the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial that they believe will support the approval of the
new therapeutic.
Concurrent with clinical trials, sponsors usually complete additional animal safety studies, develop additional information about the
chemistry and physical characteristics of the product candidate and finalize a process for manufacturing commercial quantities of the
product candidate in accordance with cGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing
quality batches of the product candidate and the manufacturer must develop methods for testing the safety, purity and potency of the
product candidate. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested, and stability studies must be conducted to
demonstrate that the biologic product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.
Submission of a BLA to the FDA
The results of product development, including results from nonclinical studies and clinical trials, along with descriptions of the
manufacturing process, analytical tests and other control mechanisms, proposed labeling and other relevant information are submitted
to the FDA as part of a BLA requesting approval to market the product for one or more indications.
Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”) as amended, each BLA must be accompanied by a significant user fee. The
FDA adjusts the PDUFA user fees on an annual basis. PDUFA also imposes an annual program fee for marketed products. Fee
waivers or reductions are available in certain circumstances, such as where a waiver is necessary to protect the public health, where
the application seeks an indication covered by an Orphan Drug Designation, where the fee would present a significant barrier to
innovation, or where the applicant is a small business submitting its first human therapeutic application for review.
Within 60 days following submission of the application, the FDA reviews a BLA to determine if it is substantially complete before the
agency accepts it for filing. The FDA may refuse to file any BLA that it deems incomplete or not properly reviewable at the time of
submission and may request additional information. In this event, the BLA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The
resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the
FDA begins an in-depth substantive review of the BLA. The FDA reviews a BLA to determine, among other things, whether the
proposed product is safe, pure and potent for its intended use, and whether the facility in which it is being manufactured, processed,
packaged, or held meets standards designed to assure the product’s continued safety, purity and potency in accordance with cGMP.
The FDA may refer applications for novel products or products that 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. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee,
but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions.
Before approving a BLA, the FDA will inspect the facilities at which the product is manufactured. 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. Additionally, before approving a BLA, the FDA will
typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure that the clinical trials were conducted in compliance with GCP requirements.
After the FDA evaluates the BLA and the manufacturing facilities, it issues either an approval letter or a complete response letter. An
approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the product with specific prescribing information for specific indications. A
complete response letter generally describes all of the specific deficiencies in the BLA identified by the FDA. The deficiencies
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identified may be minor, for example, requiring labeling changes, or major, for example, requiring additional clinical trials.
Additionally, the complete response letter may include recommended actions that the applicant might take to place a resubmitted
application in a condition for approval. If a complete response letter is issued, the applicant may either resubmit the BLA, addressing
all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application.
Even if a product receives regulatory approval, the approval may be significantly limited to specific indications and dosages or the
indications for use may otherwise be limited, which could restrict the commercial value of the product. Further, the FDA may require
that certain contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling.
As a condition of BLA approval, the FDA may require a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (“REMS”) to ensure that the
benefits of the drug outweigh its risks. If the FDA determines a REMS is necessary prior to or during review of the application, the
sponsor must submit a REMS as part of its application, and the FDA will not approve a BLA without a REMS, if required. A REMS
program may be required to include various elements, such as a medication guide or patient package insert, a communication plan to
educate healthcare providers of the product’s risks, or other elements to assure safe use, such as limitations on who may prescribe or
dispense the drug, dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring and the use of patient registries. In addition, all
REMS programs must include a timetable to periodically assess the strategy following implementation.
Further, product approval may require substantial post-approval testing and surveillance to monitor the product’s safety and efficacy,
and the FDA has the authority to prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of these post-marketing
programs. Once granted, product approvals may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory standards is not maintained or problems
are identified following initial marketing. Moreover, changes to the conditions established in an approved application, including
changes in indications, labeling or manufacturing processes or facilities may require submission and FDA approval of a new
supplement before the changes can be implemented. A supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data, and the FDA
uses similar procedures in reviewing supplements as it does in reviewing original applications.
Companion Diagnostics
Some of our product candidates may require use of an in vitro diagnostic to identify appropriate patient populations. These
diagnostics, often referred to as companion diagnostics, are regulated as medical devices. In the United States, the FDCA and its
implementing regulations, and other federal and state statutes and regulations govern, among other things, medical device design and
development, pre-clinical and clinical testing, premarket clearance or approval, registration and listing, manufacturing, labeling,
storage, advertising and promotion, sales and distribution, export and import, and post-market surveillance. Unless an exemption
applies, companion diagnostic tests require marketing clearance or approval from the FDA prior to commercial distribution. The two
primary types of FDA marketing authorization applicable to a medical device are premarket notification, also called 510(k) clearance,
and premarket approval (“PMA”).
If use of companion diagnostic is essential to safe and effective use of a biologic product, then the FDA generally will require
approval or clearance of the diagnostic contemporaneously with the approval of the biologic product. According to FDA guidance, for
novel product candidates such as drugs and therapeutic biologics, a companion diagnostic device and its corresponding product
candidate should be approved or cleared contemporaneously by FDA for the use indicated in the product labeling. The guidance also
explains that a companion diagnostic device used to make treatment decisions in clinical trials of a product candidate generally will be
considered an investigational device unless it is employed for an intended use for which the device is already approved or cleared. If
used to make critical treatment decisions, such as patient selection, the diagnostic device generally will be considered a significant risk
device under the FDA’s Investigational Device Exemption (“IDE”) regulations. Thus, the sponsor of the diagnostic device will be
required to comply with the IDE regulations. Even where a diagnostic is not considered a significant risk device, the sponsor must still
follow abbreviated IDE regulations in connection with its use. According to FDA guidance, if a diagnostic device and a drug or
biologic product candidate are to be studied together to support their respective approvals, both products can be studied in the same
investigational study, if the study meets both the requirements of the IDE regulations and the IND regulations. Depending on the
details of the study plan and subjects, a sponsor may seek to submit an IND alone, or both an IND and an IDE.
The FDA generally requires companion diagnostics intended to select the patients who will respond to cancer treatment to obtain
approval of a PMA for that diagnostic contemporaneously with approval of the therapeutic product. The PMA process, including the
gathering of clinical and pre-clinical data and the submission to and review by the FDA, can take several years or longer. It involves a
rigorous premarket review during which the applicant must prepare and provide the FDA with reasonable assurance of the device’s
safety and effectiveness and information about the device and its components regarding, among other things, device design,
manufacturing and labeling. PMA applications are also subject to an application fee. In addition, PMAs for certain devices must
generally include the results from extensive pre-clinical and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and
effectiveness of the device for each indication for which FDA approval is sought. In particular, for a diagnostic, the applicant must
demonstrate that the diagnostic produces reproducible results when the same sample is tested multiple times by multiple users at
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multiple laboratories. In addition, as part of the PMA review, the FDA will typically inspect the manufacturer’s facilities for
compliance with the Quality System Regulation (“QSR”) which currently represents FDA’s GMP requirements for medical devices,
and imposes elaborate testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance requirements.
PMA approval is not guaranteed, and the FDA may ultimately respond to a PMA submission with a not approvable determination
based on deficiencies in the application and require additional clinical trial or other data that may be expensive and time-consuming to
generate and that can substantially delay approval. If the FDA’s evaluation of the PMA application is favorable, the FDA typically
issues an approvable letter requiring the applicant’s agreement to specific conditions, such as changes in labeling, or specific
additional information, such as submission of final labeling, in order to secure final approval of the PMA. If the FDA’s evaluation of
the PMA or manufacturing facilities is not favorable, the FDA will deny approval of the PMA or issue a not approvable letter. A not
approvable letter will outline the deficiencies in the application and, where practical, will identify what is necessary to make the PMA
approvable. The FDA may also determine that additional clinical trials are necessary, in which case the PMA approval may be delayed
for several months or years while the trials are conducted and then the data submitted in an amendment to the PMA. If the FDA
concludes that the applicable criteria have been met, the FDA will issue a PMA for the approved indications, which can be more
limited than those originally sought by the applicant. The PMA can include post-approval conditions that the FDA believes necessary
to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the device, including, among other things, restrictions on labeling, promotion, sale and
distribution. Once granted, PMA approval may be withdrawn by the FDA if compliance with post approval requirements, conditions
of approval or other regulatory standards are not maintained or problems are identified following initial marketing.
After a device is placed on the market, it remains subject to significant regulatory requirements. Medical devices may be marketed
only for the uses and indications for which they are cleared or approved. Device manufacturers must also establish registration and
device listings with the FDA. A medical device manufacturer’s manufacturing processes and those of its suppliers are required to
comply with the applicable portions of the QSR, which cover the methods and documentation of the design, testing, production,
processes, controls, quality assurance, labeling, packaging and shipping of medical devices. Domestic facility records and
manufacturing processes are subject to periodic unscheduled inspections by the FDA. The FDA also may inspect foreign facilities that
export products to the United States.
Expedited Development and Review Programs
The FDA offers a number of expedited development and review programs for qualifying product candidates.
A product candidate may be eligible for Fast Track designation if it is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or
condition and demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition. Fast Track designation applies
to the combination of the product candidate and the specific indication for which it is being studied. The sponsor of a Fast Track
product candidate has opportunities for frequent interactions with the review team during product development and, once a BLA is
submitted, the application may be eligible for Priority Review. A BLA for a Fast Track product candidate may also be eligible for
Rolling Review, where the FDA may consider for review sections of the BLA on a rolling basis before the complete application is
submitted, if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the BLA, the FDA agrees to accept sections of the
BLA and determines that the schedule is acceptable, and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section
of the BLA.
A product candidate intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition may also be eligible for Breakthrough Therapy
designation to expedite its development and review. A product candidate can receive Breakthrough Therapy designation if preliminary
clinical evidence indicates that the product candidate may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or
more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. The designation
includes all of the Fast Track program features, as well as more intensive FDA interaction and guidance beginning as early as Phase 1
and an organizational commitment to expedite the development and review of the product candidate, including involvement of senior
managers.
After a BLA is submitted for a product candidate, including a product candidate with a Fast Track designation and/or Breakthrough
Therapy designation, the BLA may be eligible for other types of FDA programs intended to expedite the FDA review and approval
process, such as Priority Review. A BLA is eligible for Priority Review if the product candidate has the potential to provide a
significant improvement in the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of a serious disease or condition compared available products.
Priority review designation means the FDA’s goal is to take action on the marketing application within six months of the 60-day filing
date, compared to ten months under standard review.
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Additionally, depending on the design of the applicable clinical trials, product candidates studied for their safety and effectiveness in
treating serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions may receive Accelerated Approval upon a determination that the product
candidate has 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, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or
mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of
alternative treatments. As a condition of Accelerated Approval, the FDA will generally require the sponsor to perform adequate and
well-controlled confirmatory clinical studies to verify and describe the anticipated effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or
other clinical benefit, and may require that such confirmatory trials be underway prior to granting accelerated approval. Products
receiving Accelerated Approval may be subject to expedited withdrawal procedures if the sponsor fails to conduct the required
confirmatory studies in a timely manner or if such studies fail to verify the predicted clinical benefit. In addition, the FDA currently
requires as a condition for Accelerated Approval pre-approval of promotional materials, which could adversely impact the timing of
the commercial launch of the product.
Patent Term Restoration and Marketing Exclusivity
Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of FDA approval of the use of our therapeutic candidates, some of our U.S. patents
may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, referred
to as the Hatch-Waxman Act. The Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent restoration term of up to five years as compensation for patent
term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review process. However, patent term restoration cannot extend the
remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the product candidate’s approval date. The patent term restoration period is
generally one half of the time between the effective date of an IND and the submission date of a BLA, plus the time between the
submission date of a 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 product candidate is eligible for the extension
and the application for extension must be made prior to expiration of the patent. The USPTO, in consultation with the FDA, reviews
and approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration. In the future, we intend to apply for restorations of patent
term for some of our currently owned or licensed patents to add patent life beyond their current expiration date, depending on the
expected length of clinical trials and other factors involved in the submission of the relevant BLA.
Biosimilars and Exclusivity
The Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, includes the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (“BPCIA”), which
created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed
reference biological product. The FDA has issued several guidance documents outlining an approach to review and approval of
biosimilars. Biosimilarity, which requires that there be no clinically meaningful differences between the biological product and the
reference product in terms of safety, purity, and potency, can be shown through analytical studies, animal studies, and a clinical study
or studies. Interchangeability requires that a product is biosimilar to the reference product and the product must demonstrate that it can
be expected to produce the same clinical results as the reference product in any given patient and, for products that are administered
multiple times to an individual, the biologic and the reference biologic may be alternated or switched after one has been previously
administered without increasing safety risks or risks of diminished efficacy relative to exclusive use of the reference biologic.
Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product may not be submitted to the FDA until four years following the date that the
reference product was first licensed by the FDA. In addition, the approval of a biosimilar product may not be made effective by the
FDA until 12 years from the date on which the reference product was first licensed. During this 12-year period of exclusivity, another
company may still market a competing version of the reference product if the FDA approves a full BLA for the competing product
containing that applicant’s own preclinical data and data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety,
purity and potency of its product. The BPCIA also created certain exclusivity periods for biosimilars approved as interchangeable
products. At this juncture, it is unclear whether products deemed “interchangeable” by the FDA will, in fact, be readily substituted by
pharmacies, which are governed by state pharmacy law.
A biological product can also obtain pediatric market exclusivity in the United States. Pediatric exclusivity, if granted, adds six
months to existing exclusivity periods and patent terms. This six-month exclusivity, which runs from the end of other exclusivity
protection or patent term, may be granted based on the voluntary completion of a pediatric study in accordance with an FDA-issued
“Written Request” for such a study. The FDA’s issuance of a written request does not obligate the sponsor to conduct the requested
study.
Orphan Drug Designation
Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant Orphan Drug Designation to therapeutic candidates intended to treat a rare disease or
condition, which is generally a disease or condition that affects either (1) fewer than 200,000 individuals in the U.S., or (2) more than
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200,000 individuals in the U.S. and for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available in
the U.S. a product candidate for this type of disease or condition will be recovered from sales in the U.S. for that product candidate.
Orphan drug designation entitles the applicant to incentives, which may include grant funding towards clinical study costs, tax
advantages, and waivers of FDA user fees. Orphan Drug Designation must be requested before submitting a 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 candidate that has Orphan Drug Designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease or condition for
which it has such designation, the product candidate is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not
approve any other applications to market the same product candidate for the same disease or condition for seven years, except under
limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority to the product with orphan drug exclusivity or if the FDA finds that
the holder of the orphan drug exclusivity has not shown that it can assure the availability of sufficient quantities of the orphan drug to
meet the needs of patients with the disease or condition for which the drug was designated. Orphan drug exclusivity does not prevent
the FDA from approving a different drug for the same disease or condition, or the same drug for a different disease or condition.
Among the other benefits of orphan drug designation are tax credits for certain research and a waiver of the NDA application user fee.
A designated orphan drug may not receive orphan drug exclusivity if it is approved for a use that is broader than the indication for
which it received orphan designation. In addition, orphan drug exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be lost if the FDA
later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or, as noted above, if a second applicant demonstrates that its
product is clinically superior to the approved product with orphan exclusivity or the manufacturer of the approved product is unable to
assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition
Pediatric Studies
The Pediatric Research Equity Act (“PREA”) requires a sponsor to conduct pediatric studies for most therapeutic candidates and
biologics, for a new active ingredient, new indication, new dosage form, new dosing regimen or new route of administration. Under
PREA, original BLAs and supplements thereto must contain a pediatric assessment unless the sponsor has received a deferral or
waiver. The required assessment must assess the safety and effectiveness of the product candidate for the claimed indications in all
relevant pediatric subpopulations and support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product
candidate is determined to be safe, pure and potent. The sponsor or FDA may request a deferral of pediatric studies for some or all of
the pediatric subpopulations. A deferral may be granted for several reasons, including a finding that the product candidate or biologic
is ready for approval for use in adults before pediatric studies are complete or that additional safety or effectiveness data needs to be
collected before the pediatric studies begin. The law requires the FDA to send a PREA Non-Compliance letter to sponsors who have
failed to submit their pediatric assessments required under PREA, have failed to seek or obtain a deferral or deferral extension or have
failed to request approval for a required pediatric formulation. It further requires the FDA to post the PREA Non- Compliance letter
and sponsor’s responses.
Post-Approval Requirements
Once a BLA approval is granted, the FDA may withdraw the approval if compliance with regulatory requirements is not maintained or
if problems occur after the biologic product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product
candidate may result in restrictions on the product candidate or even complete withdrawal of the product candidate from the market.
After approval, some types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications, manufacturing changes and additional
labeling claims, are subject to further FDA review and approval. In addition, the FDA may under some circumstances require testing
and surveillance programs to monitor the effect of approved product that have been commercialized, and the FDA under some
circumstances has the power to prevent or limit further marketing of a product candidate based on the results of these post-marketing
programs.
Biologic manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved therapeutic products are required
to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the
FDA and some state agencies for compliance with cGMPs and other laws. The FDA periodically inspects manufacturing facilities to
assess compliance with cGMP, which imposes extensive procedural, substantive and record-keeping requirements. In addition,
changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated, and, depending on the significance of the change, may require FDA
approval before being implemented. FDA regulations would also require investigation and correction of any deviations from cGMP
and impose reporting and documentation requirements upon us and any third-party manufacturers that we may decide to use if our
product candidates are approved. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of
production and quality control to maintain compliance with cGMP and other aspects of regulatory compliance.
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Once an approval is granted, the FDA may withdraw the 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 mandatory revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information; imposition of post-market
studies or clinical trials to assess new safety risks; or imposition of distribution or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other
potential consequences include, among other things:
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restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market or
product recalls;
safety alerts, Dear Healthcare Provider letters, press releases or other communications containing warning or other safety
information about the product;
fines, warning letters or holds on post-approval clinical trials;
refusal of the FDA to approve pending BLAs or supplements to approved BLAs, or suspension or revocation of product
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 closely regulates the marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of drug products. A company can make only those
claims relating to safety and efficacy that are approved by the FDA 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. Failure to comply with
these requirements can result in, among other things, adverse publicity, warning letters, corrective advertising and potential civil and
criminal penalties. Physicians may prescribe, in their independent professional medical judgment, legally available products for uses
that are not described in the product’s labeling and that differ from those tested by us and approved by the FDA. Physicians may
believe that such off-label uses are the best treatment for many patients in varied circumstances. The FDA does not regulate the
behavior of physicians in their choice of treatments. The FDA does, however, restrict manufacturer’s communications on the subject
of off-label use of their products. However, companies may share truthful and not misleading information that is otherwise consistent
with a product’s FDA-approved labelling.
Regulation Outside of the U.S.
In addition to regulations in the U.S., we will be subject to regulations of other jurisdictions governing any clinical trials and
commercial sales and distribution of our therapeutic candidates. Whether or not we obtain FDA approval for a product, we must
obtain approval by the comparable regulatory authorities of countries outside of the U.S. before we can commence clinical trials in
such countries and approval of the regulators of such countries or economic areas, such as the European Union, before we may market
products in those countries or areas. The approval process and requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing,
pricing and reimbursement vary greatly from place to place, and the time may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA
approval.
Under European Union regulatory systems, a company can consider applying for marketing authorization in several European Union
member states by submitting its marketing authorization application(s) under a centralized, decentralized or mutual recognition
procedure. The centralized procedure provides for the grant of a single marketing authorization that is valid for all European Union
member states. The centralized procedure is compulsory for medicines derived from biotechnology, orphan medicinal products, or
those medicines with an active substance not authorized in the European Union on or before May 20, 2004 intended to treat acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (“AIDS”), cancer, neurodegenerative disorders or diabetes and optional for those medicines containing
a new active substance not authorized in the European Union on or before May 20, 2004, medicines which are highly innovative, or
medicines to which the granting of a marketing authorization under the centralized procedure would be in the interest of patients at the
European Union-level. The decentralized procedure provides for recognition by European Union national authorities of a first
assessment performed by one of the member states. Under this procedure, an identical application for marketing authorization is
submitted simultaneously to the national authorities of several European Union member states, one of them being chosen as the
“Reference Member State”, and the remaining being the “Concerned Member States”. The Reference Member State must prepare and
send drafts of an assessment report, summary of product characteristics and the labelling and package leaflet within 120 days after
receipt of a valid marketing authorization application to the Concerned Member States, which must decide within 90 days whether to
recognize approval. If any Concerned Member State does not recognize the marketing authorization on the grounds of potential
serious risk to public health, the disputed points are eventually referred to the European Commission, whose decision is binding on all
member states. The mutual recognition procedure is similar to the decentralized procedure except that a medicine must have already
received a marketing authorization in at least one of the member states, and that member state acts as the Reference Member State.
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As in the U.S., we may apply for designation of a product candidate as an orphan drug for the treatment of a specific indication in the
European Union before the application for marketing authorization is made.
Orphan drugs in the European Union enjoy economic and marketing benefits, including up to ten years of market exclusivity for the
approved indication unless another applicant can show that its product is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior to the
orphan-designated product, the marketing authorization holder is unable to supply sufficient quantity of the medicinal product or the
marketing authorization holder has given its consent.
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. These third-party payors are increasingly
reducing reimbursements for medical products and services. Additionally, the containment of healthcare costs has become a priority of
federal and state governments and the prices of therapeutics have been a focus in this effort. The U.S. government, state legislatures
and foreign governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost-containment programs, including price controls,
restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products. Adoption of price controls and cost-containment
measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limit our net
revenue and results. If these third- party payors do not consider our products to be cost-effective compared to other therapies, they
may not cover our products after approval as a benefit under their plans or, if they do, the level of payment may not be sufficient to
allow us to sell our products on a profitable basis.
Healthcare Reform
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (together, the
“ACA”) has had a significant impact on the health care industry. The ACA expanded coverage for the uninsured while at the same
time containing overall healthcare costs. With regard to biopharmaceutical products, the ACA, among other things, 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 manufacturers under the Medicaid
Drug Rebate Program and extended the rebate program to individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, established
annual fees and taxes on manufacturers of certain branded prescription drugs, and a Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program,
in which manufacturers had to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts, which, through subsequent legislative amendments, was increased to
70%, off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the
manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D.
Since its enactment, there have been judicial, executive and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA. On June 17,
2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the most recent judicial challenge to the ACA brought by several states without specifically
ruling on the constitutionality of the ACA. Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, President Biden issued an executive order initiating
a special enrollment period from February 15, 2021 through August 15, 2021 for purposes of obtaining health insurance coverage
through the ACA marketplace. The executive order also instructed certain governmental agencies to review and reconsider their
existing policies and rules that limit access to healthcare.
In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the ACA was enacted that impact
payment methodologies and reimbursement amounts. On August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 among other things, created
measures for spending reductions by Congress, which led to aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers, starting in April
2013, and due to subsequent legislative amendments, will stay in effect through 2032, with the exception of a temporary suspension
from May 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022, unless additional Congressional action is taken. On January 2, 2013, the American
Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the “ATRA”) was signed into law which, among other things, also reduced Medicare payments to
several types of providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer treatment centers, and increased the statute of limitations
period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. In addition, in March 2021, the American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law, which eliminates the statutory Medicaid drug rebate cap, currently set at 100% of a
drug’s average manufacturer price, beginning January 1, 2024.
Recently, there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed
products, which has resulted in several Congressional inquiries and proposed bills designed to, among other things, bring more
transparency to product pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform government
program reimbursement methodologies for drug products. Most recently, on August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, or
IRA, was signed into law. Among other things, the IRA requires manufacturers of certain drugs to engage in price negotiations with
Medicare (beginning in 2026), imposes rebates under Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D to penalize price increases that outpace
inflation (first due in 2023), and replaces the Part D coverage gap discount program with a new discounting program (beginning in
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2025). The IRA permits the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement many of these provisions
through guidance, as opposed to regulation, for the initial years. For that and other reasons, it is currently unclear how the IRA will be
effectuated. Individual states in the United States have also become increasingly active in passing legislation and implementing
regulations designed to control pharmaceutical 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. We cannot predict the extent of the impact of any changes to any of
these laws on us.
Finally, in some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a product candidate must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed.
The requirements governing therapeutic pricing 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 product candidates. Historically,
therapeutic candidates launched in the European Union do not follow price structures of the U.S. and generally tend to be significantly
lower.
Other Healthcare Laws
We may also be subject to healthcare regulation and enforcement by the federal government and the states and foreign governments
where we may market our product candidates, if approved. These laws include, without limitation, state and federal anti-kickback,
fraud and abuse, false claims, physician and other health care provider payment and drug pricing transparency laws and regulations.
The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, any person from knowingly and willfully offering, soliciting,
receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce either the referral of an individual, for an item or service or the
purchasing or ordering of a good or service, for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as the Medicare
and Medicaid programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is subject to evolving interpretations. In the past, the government has enforced the
Anti-Kickback Statute to reach large settlements with healthcare companies based on sham consulting and other financial
arrangements with physicians. 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. The majority of states also have anti-kickback laws, which establish similar prohibitions and,
in some cases, may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers.
Additionally, the civil False Claims Act prohibits knowingly presenting or causing the presentation of a false, fictitious or fraudulent
claim for payment to the U.S. government, knowingly making, using, or causing to be made or used a false record or statement
material to a false or fraudulent claim to the U.S. government, or from knowingly making a false statement to avoid, decrease or
conceal an obligation to pay money to the U.S. government. 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
federal False Claims Act. Actions under the False Claims Act may be brought by the Attorney General or as a qui tam action by a
private individual in the name of the government. The federal government is using the False Claims Act, and the accompanying threat
of significant liability, in its investigation and prosecution of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies throughout the U.S., for
example, in connection with the promotion of products for unapproved uses and other sales and marketing practices. The government
has obtained multi-million and multi-billion-dollar settlements under the False Claims Act in addition to individual criminal
convictions under applicable criminal statutes. Given the significant size of actual and potential settlements, it is expected that the
government will continue to devote substantial resources to investigating healthcare providers’ and manufacturers’ compliance with
applicable fraud and abuse laws.
The U.S. federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), created new federal criminal statutes that
prohibit among other actions, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit
program, including private third-party payors, knowingly and willfully embezzling or stealing from a healthcare benefit program,
willfully obstructing a criminal investigation of a healthcare offense, and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering
up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for
healthcare benefits, items or services. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 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.
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There has also been a recent trend of increased federal and state regulation of payments made to physicians and other healthcare
providers. The ACA, among other things, imposes new reporting requirements on drug manufacturers for payments made by them to
physicians (as defined by statute), certain non-physician practitioners including physician assistants and nurse practitioners and
teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Certain
states also mandate implementation of compliance programs and compliance with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance
guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, impose restrictions on drug manufacturer
marketing practices and/or require the tracking and reporting of pricing and marketing information as well as gifts, compensation and
other remuneration or items of value provided to physicians and other healthcare professionals and entities.
Penalties for violating any of such laws or any other governmental regulations that apply include, without limitation, administrative,
civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, the curtailment or restructuring of operations, exclusion from participation
in federal and state healthcare programs, integrity oversight and reporting obligations to resolve allegations of non-compliance and
imprisonment.
Data Privacy and Security Laws
Numerous state, federal and foreign laws, regulations and standards govern the collection, use, access to, confidentiality and security
of health-related and other personal information, and could apply now or in the future to our operations or the operations of our
partners. In the United States, numerous federal and state laws and regulations, including data breach notification laws, health
information privacy and security laws and consumer protection laws and regulations govern the collection, use, disclosure, and
protection of health-related and other personal information. In addition, certain foreign laws govern the privacy and security of
personal data, including health-related data. Privacy and security laws, regulations, and other obligations are constantly evolving, may
conflict with each other to complicate compliance efforts, and can result in investigations, proceedings, or actions that lead to
significant civil and/or criminal penalties and restrictions on data processing.
Environment
Our third-party manufacturers are subject to inspections by the FDA for compliance with cGMP and other U.S. regulatory
requirements, including U.S. federal, state and local regulations regarding environmental protection and hazardous and controlled
substance controls, among others. Environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become
more stringent over time. We have incurred, and may continue to incur, significant expenditures to ensure we are in compliance with
these laws and regulations. We would be subject to significant penalties for failure to comply with these laws and regulations.
Our Company Origins and Team
Our PROBODY platform technology has its origins in work performed at the University of California, Santa Barbara (“UCSB”), by
our scientific founder Professor Patrick Daugherty. Since our inception, we have continued developing and adding to this technology
and aspire to design a pipeline of PROBODY therapeutics that will better the lives of cancer patients. We have assembled an
experienced and talented group of individuals dedicated to the advancement of cancer care. Our chief executive officer and chairman,
Dr. Sean McCarthy, leads a team that draws on robust experience in all phases of product discovery, clinical development and
commercialization. Our management team members have significant experience in oncology with previous experience at Amylin
Pharmaceuticals, Catalyst Biosciences, Coherus BioSciences, Elan Phramaceuticals, Eli Lilly and Company, Exelixis, Genentech,
Millennium, Novartis, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Portola Pharmaceuticals, SGX, Xencor and other companies.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2023, we had 120 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees. Of these employees, 88 were primarily
engaged in research and development activities. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or covered by collective
bargaining agreements and we consider our employee relations to be good. Our human capital resources objectives include, as
applicable, identifying, recruiting, retaining, incentivizing and integrating our existing and additional employees. The principal
purposes of our equity incentive plans are to attract, retain and motivate selected employees, consultants and directors through the
granting of stock-based compensation awards and cash-based performance bonus awards.
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Corporate Information
Our operations commenced in February 2008 when our predecessor entity was formed. We were incorporated in Delaware in
September 2010. We maintain our executive offices at 151 Oyster Point Blvd., Suite 400, South San Francisco, California 94080, and
our main telephone number is (650) 515-3185.
We view our operations and measure our business as one reportable segment operating in the United States. See Note 2 to our audited
financial statement included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information. Additional information
required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to PART II. Item 6 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Our research and development expenses were $77.7 million and $111.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively. Please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Research and
Development Expenses” for additional detail regarding our research and development activities.
We maintain a website at www.cytomx.com, which contains information about us. The information in, or that can be accessed through,
our website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and
current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are available, free of charge, on or through our website as soon as
reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding our filings at www.sec.gov.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K, including our financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” If any of the following risks are realized, our business, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. The risks described below are not the only risks facing the
Company. Risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely
affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or prospects.
Risks Related to Our Business
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history and have not generated any revenue from
product sales. We have a history of losses, expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future and may never
achieve or maintain profitability, which could result in a decline in the market value of our common stock.
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history, developing a novel class of therapeutic antibody
product candidates, based on our proprietary biologic PROBODY® conditionally activated technology platform. Since our inception,
we have devoted our resources to the development of PROBODY therapeutics. We have had significant operating losses since our
inception. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had an accumulated deficit of $723.4 million and $722.9 million, respectively.
Substantially all of our losses have resulted from expenses incurred in connection with our research and development programs and
from general and administrative costs associated with our operations.
Though we have developed our PROBODY platform, our technologies and product candidates are in early stages of development, and
we are subject to the risks of failure inherent in the development of product candidates based on novel technologies. We have not yet
demonstrated our ability to successfully complete any mid or late-stage clinical trials, including large-scale, pivotal clinical trials,
obtain regulatory approvals, arrange for a third party to manufacture a commercial-scale product candidate, or conduct sales and
marketing activities necessary for successful commercialization. Typically, it takes many years to develop one product candidate from
the time it enters initial preclinical studies to when it is available for treating patients. Consequently, any predictions made about our
future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a longer operating history. We will need to transition from
a company with a research and development focus to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. We may not be
successful in such a transition.
Furthermore, we have never generated any revenue from product sales, and have not obtained regulatory approval for any of our
product candidates. We also do not expect to generate any revenue from product sales for the foreseeable future, and we expect to
continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future due to the cost of research and development, preclinical studies
and clinical trials and the regulatory approval process for our product candidates. We expect our net losses to increase substantially
over time as we continue the development of our pipeline and advance additional programs into clinical development. However, the
amount of our future losses is uncertain. Our ability to achieve profitability, if ever, will depend on, among other things, our, or our
collaborators, successfully developing product candidates, obtaining regulatory approvals to market and commercialize product
candidates, manufacturing any approved products on commercially reasonable terms, establishing a sales and marketing organization
or suitable third-party alternatives for any approved product and raising sufficient funds to finance business activities. If we, or our
collaborators, are unable to develop our technologies and commercialize one or more of our product candidates or if sales revenue
from any product candidate that receives approval is insufficient, we will not achieve profitability, which could have a material and
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We expect that we will need to raise substantial additional funds to advance development of our product candidates and we cannot
guarantee that this additional funding will be available on acceptable terms or at all. Failure to obtain this necessary capital when
needed may force us to delay, limit or terminate our product development and commercialization of our current or future product
candidates.
The development of biopharmaceutical product candidates is capital-intensive. To date, we have used substantial funds to develop our
technology and product candidates and will require significant funds to conduct our ongoing clinical trials as well as to further our
research and development, preclinical testing and future clinical trials of additional product candidates, to seek regulatory approvals
for our product candidates and to manufacture and market any products that are approved for commercial sale. In addition, we have
incurred and will continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. However, financial market
conditions, including the public equity markets, and government regulation, including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, signed into
law by President Biden in August 2022, have made it difficult for biotechnology companies to raise additional funds and may continue
to do so. We cannot predict when or if market conditions will change.
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As of December 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $174.5 million. We believe that our existing capital
resources will be sufficient to fund our planned operations into the second half of 2025. Our future capital requirements and the period
for which we expect our existing resources to support our operations may vary significantly from what we expect and we may not
achieve the expected cash flow savings that we anticipate as a result of our recent restructuring. Our monthly spending levels vary
based on our ongoing clinical trials, new and ongoing research and development and other corporate activities. Because the length of
time and activities associated with conducting our clinical trials and successfully researching and developing our product candidates is
highly uncertain, we are unable to estimate the actual funds we will require for development and, once any product candidate is
approved, any subsequent marketing and commercialization activities.
The timing and amount of our operating expenditures will depend largely on:
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the scope, timing and progress of our ongoing clinical trials as well as any other preclinical and clinical development
activities;
the number, size and type of clinical trials and preclinical studies that we may be required to complete for our product
candidates, as well as the cost and time of such studies and trials;
the number, scope and prioritization of preclinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue;
the time and cost necessary to produce clinical supplies of our product candidates;
the time and cost necessary to scale our manufacturing capabilities prior to or following regulatory approval and
commercial launch of any product candidates;
the progress of the development efforts of parties with whom we have entered or may in the future enter into
collaborations and research and development agreements;
the timing and amount of payments we may receive or are obligated to pay under our collaboration agreements and
license agreements;
our ability to maintain our current licenses and research and development programs and to establish new collaboration
arrangements;
the costs involved in prosecuting and enforcing patent and other intellectual property claims, including the ongoing patent
infringement lawsuit brought by Vytacera against us;
the cost of any existing or future litigation to which we are or may become a party;
the cost and timing of regulatory approvals; and
our efforts to enhance operational systems and hire additional personnel, including personnel to support development and
commercialization of our product candidates and satisfy our obligations as a public company.
If we are unable to obtain funding on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, we may have to delay, reduce or terminate our research
and development programs and preclinical studies or clinical trials, limit strategic opportunities or undergo reductions in our
workforce or other corporate restructuring activities. For example, in November 2023, we announced that we would not direct
significant further investment in the development of CX-2029 in the near-term. We also could be required to seek funds through
arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to relinquish rights to some of our technologies or product candidates
that we would otherwise pursue on our own. We do not expect to realize revenue from sales of products or royalties from licensed
products in the foreseeable future, if at all, and unless and until our product candidates are clinically tested, approved for
commercialization and successfully marketed. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through sales of our common stock,
sale of our convertible preferred securities prior to our IPO, payments received under our collaboration agreements, including, more
recently, the collaboration and license agreements that we entered into with each of Regeneron and Moderna in November and
December 2022, respectively, and funding we received in a private placement of our common stock, warrants and pre-funded warrants
in July 2023. We will be required to seek additional funding in the future and currently intend to do so through additional
collaborations, public or private equity offerings or debt financings, credit or loan facilities or a combination of one or more of these
funding sources. Our ability to raise additional funds will depend on financial, economic and other factors, many of which are beyond
our control. Additionally, our stock price has declined and our ability to raise adequate funding through equity offerings, if at all, may
be limited. Additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity
securities, our stockholders will suffer dilution and the terms of any financing may adversely affect the rights of our stockholders. For
example, when we issue shares of common stock upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, Tranche 1 warrants and Tranche 2
warrants (collectively, the Tranche 1 warrants and Tranche 2 warrants, the “Tranche Warrants”) issued in our July 2023 private
placement, our existing stockholders will suffer dilution and such dilutive impact may be difficult to compute. In addition, as a
condition to providing additional funds to us, future investors may demand, and may be granted, rights superior to those of existing
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stockholders. Debt financing, if available, is likely to involve restrictive covenants limiting our flexibility in conducting future
business activities, and, in the event of insolvency, debt holders would be repaid before holders of our equity securities received any
distribution of our corporate assets.
Clinical development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies and trials
may not be predictive of future trial results. We may incur additional costs or experience delays in completing, or ultimately be
unable to complete, the development and commercialization of our product candidates.
As is the case with all oncology drugs, our product candidates in clinical development or preclinical development go through a long
process and have a high risk of failure, including termination for strategic reasons. It is impossible to predict when or if any of our or
our partner’s product candidates will prove safe, pure and potent (or effective) in humans or will receive regulatory approval. Before
obtaining marketing approval from regulatory authorities for the sale of any product candidate, we or our partners must complete
extensive clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency (or efficacy) of our product candidates in humans.
Commencement of initial clinical trials for future programs is subject to finalizing the trial design and submission of an IND or similar
submission to the FDA or similar global health authorities. In addition, even if we submit an IND or a comparable submission in other
jurisdictions for our product candidates, the FDA or other regulatory authorities could disagree that we have satisfied their
requirements to commence our clinical trials or disagree with our study design, which may require us to complete additional
preclinical studies or amend our protocols or impose stricter conditions on the commencement of clinical trials and may delay our
ability to begin Phase 1 clinical trials, causing an increase in the amount of time and expense required to develop our product
candidates. As a result of the foregoing, the research and development, preclinical studies and clinical testing of any product candidate
is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the
development process.
Further, we or our collaborators may also experience delays in completing ongoing clinical trials, completing preclinical studies or
initiating further clinical trials of our product candidates. We do not know whether our or our collaborators’ ongoing clinical trials or
preclinical studies will be completed on schedule or at all, or whether planned clinical trials or preclinical studies will begin on time,
need to be redesigned, enroll patients on time or be completed on schedule, if at all. We or our collaborators may have insufficient
internal resources to complete ongoing clinical trials or initiate clinical trials for our other product candidates. The development
programs for our product candidates may also be delayed for a variety of reasons, including delays related to:
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recruiting suitable patients to participate in a clinical trial;
developing and validating any companion diagnostic to be used in a clinical trial;
the FDA or other regulatory authorities requiring us to submit additional data or imposing other requirements before
permitting us to initiate a clinical trial;
obtaining regulatory authority clearance to commence a clinical trial;
reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organization (“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;
obtaining institutional review board (“IRB”) approval at each clinical trial site;
having patients complete a clinical trial or return for post-treatment follow-up;
clinical trial sites deviating from trial protocol or dropping out of a trial;
adding new clinical trial sites;
manufacturing our product candidates in sufficient quality and quantity for use in clinical trials; or
collaborators electing to not pursue development and commercialization of our product candidates.
In addition, the results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of our product candidates may not be predictive of the results of
later-stage clinical trials. Product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy traits
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 safety profiles, notwithstanding
promising results in earlier trials.
Our product candidates are in early stages of development and may fail or suffer delays that materially and adversely affect their
commercial viability. If we are unable to advance our product candidates through clinical development, obtain regulatory approval
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and ultimately commercialize such product candidates, or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be materially
harmed.
We are very early in our development efforts, including with CX-904 currently continuing in early-stage clinical development. We
have submitted INDs for CX-2051 and CX-801, and are in the process of initiating Phase 1 clinical trials for each product candidate.
We have no products on the market and our ability to achieve and sustain profitability depends on obtaining regulatory approvals for
and successfully commercializing our product candidates, either alone or with third parties. Before obtaining regulatory approval for
the commercial distribution of our product candidates, we or our collaborator must conduct extensive preclinical tests and clinical
trials to demonstrate sufficient safety, purity and potency (or efficacy) of our product candidates in patients.
As a result, we may not have the financial resources to continue development of, or to modify existing or enter into new collaborations
for, a product candidate if we experience any issues that delay or prevent regulatory approval of, or our ability to commercialize,
product candidates, including:
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negative or inconclusive results from our clinical trials, the clinical trials of our collaborators or the clinical trials of others
for product candidates similar to ours, leading to a decision or requirement to conduct additional preclinical testing or
clinical trials or abandon a program;
product-related side effects experienced by participants in our clinical trials, the clinical trials of our collaborators or by
individuals using drugs or therapeutic biologics similar to our product candidates;
delays in submitting INDs or comparable foreign applications or delays or failure in obtaining the necessary approvals or
allowances from regulators to commence a clinical trial, or a suspension or termination of a clinical trial once
commenced;
conditions imposed by the FDA or comparable foreign authorities regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials;
delays in enrolling research subjects in clinical trials;
high drop-out rates of research subjects;
inadequate supply or quality of product candidate components or materials or other supplies necessary for the conduct of
our or our collaborators’ clinical trials;
greater than anticipated clinical trial costs;
delay in the development or approval of companion diagnostic tests for our product candidates;
delays or difficulties in the manufacturing of our product candidates
unfavorable FDA or other regulatory agency inspection and review of a clinical trial site;
failure of our third-party contractors or investigators to comply with regulatory requirements or otherwise meet their
contractual obligations in a timely manner, or at all;
delays and changes in regulatory requirements, policy and guidelines, including the imposition of additional regulatory
oversight around clinical testing generally or with respect to our technology in particular; or
varying interpretations of data by the FDA and similar foreign regulatory agencies.
We could find that the therapeutics we or our collaborators pursue are not safe, pure, potent (or efficacious). Further, a clinical trial
may be suspended or terminated by us, our collaborators, the IRBs of the institutions in which such trials are being conducted, the
Data Safety Monitoring Board for such trial or by the FDA or other regulatory authorities 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 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 drug or therapeutic biologic, changes in governmental regulations
or administrative actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial. Furthermore, we expect to rely on our collaborators,
CROs and clinical trial sites to ensure proper and timely conduct of our clinical trials and while we expect to enter into agreements
governing their committed activities, we have limited influence over their actual performance.
If we or our collaborators experience delays in the completion of, or termination of, any clinical trial of our product candidates, the
commercial prospects of our product candidates will be harmed, and our ability to generate product revenues or receive royalties from
any of these product candidates will be delayed. In addition, any delays in completing our clinical trials will increase our costs, slow
down our product development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenues.
Furthermore, if one or more of our product candidates or our PROBODY therapeutic technology generally prove to be ineffective,
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unsafe or commercially unviable, the development of our entire platform and pipeline could be delayed, potentially permanently. For
example, in March 2023, AbbVie announced that it would not advance CX-2029 into additional clinical trials and terminated our 2016
CD71 License and Collaboration Agreement for CX-2029. In November 2023, we announced that we would not direct significant
further investment in the development of CX-2029 in the near-term. Any similar occurrences may materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. 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.
Interim, “top-line,” and preliminary data from our clinical trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as
more patient data become available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in
the final data.
From time to time, we may publicly disclose preliminary or top-line data from our preclinical studies and clinical trials, which is based
on a preliminary analysis of then-available data, and the results and related findings and conclusions are subject to change following a
more comprehensive review of the data related to the particular study or trial. We also make assumptions, estimations, calculations
and conclusions as part of our analyses of data, and we may not have received or had the opportunity to fully and carefully evaluate all
data. As a result, the top-line or preliminary results that we report may differ from future results of the same studies, or different
conclusions or considerations may qualify such results, once additional data have been received and fully evaluated. Top-line data also
remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the preliminary data
we previously published. As a result, top-line data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available.
From time to time, we may also disclose interim data from our preclinical studies and clinical trials. Interim data from clinical trials
that we may complete are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment
continues and more patient data become available or as patients from our clinical trials continue other treatments for their disease.
Adverse differences between preliminary, top-line, or interim data and final data could significantly harm our business prospects.
Further, others, including regulatory agencies, may not accept or agree with our assumptions, estimates, calculations, conclusions or
analyses or may interpret or weigh the importance of data differently, which could impact the value of the particular program, the
approvability or commercialization of the particular product candidate or product and our company in general. In addition, the
information we choose to publicly disclose regarding a particular study or clinical trial is based on what is typically extensive
information, and you or others may not agree with what we determine is material or otherwise appropriate information to include in
our disclosure.
Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects at any time during or after the clinical trial process that could delay or
prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences
following marketing approval, if any, including withdrawal from the market.
Undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates could cause us, our collaborators 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 or other
regulatory authorities. As is the case with all oncology drugs, there may be immediate or late side effects associated with the use of
our product candidates, including CX-904, CX-2051 and CX-801. There can be no assurance that unexpected adverse events will not
occur in our ongoing trials or in future trials involving our product candidates or the product candidates of our collaborators.
Undesirable side effects may appear in later trials that were not observed in our earlier trials or may be more severe in later trials than
earlier trials.
In May 2020, we announced that CX-2029 was generally well tolerated at doses up to 3 mg/kg with the most common TRAEs being
infusion related reactions, anemia and neutropenia/leukopenia. Grade 3 or greater hematologic TRAEs, anemia and neutropenia, were
dose dependent, with anemia being managed with transfusions and supportive care. In January 2023, we announced that the safety
results for CX-2029 for the three ongoing expansion cohorts were consistent with previous observations, with no new safety signals
identified. The most common TRAEs in 10% or more of patients (All Grade, Grade 3+) were anemia (82.6%, 76.1%), infusion related
reactions (70.7%, 3.3%), neutropenia (23.9%, 17.4%), fatigue (17.4%, 1.1%), nausea (13.0%, 1.1%), and diarrhea (10.9%, 0%). There
was 1 febrile neutropenia event (Grade 3) reported. In March 2023, our collaboration partner, AbbVie decided to not advance CX-
2029 into additional clinical studies and terminated the 2016 CD71 License and Collaboration Agreement. CytomX re-acquired full
rights to CX-2029, however, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company decided to not to make any further significant investments in
the solid tumor CX-2029 program in the near-term, but continues to have a strategic interest in the CD71 target, including next-
generation approaches..
The results of our or our collaborators’ future clinical trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity of adverse side effects,
including immune system related adverse events or increased toxicity, and it is possible that patients enrolled in such clinical trials
could respond in unexpected ways or otherwise have unexpected adverse events. For example, in 2022 we initiated a first-in-human
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Phase 1 clinical trial with CX-904 and, while we believe our preclinical studies indicate the potential to reach a favorable therapeutic
index, clinical data will be necessary to specify an acceptable dose. We cannot provide assurance that we will reach an acceptable
dose for CX-904 and similar risks will exist upon the initiation of clinical studies for CX-2051 and CX-801.
Additionally, the Phase 2 clinical trial of BMS-986249 being conducted by Bristol Myers Squibb includes, and the Phase 2 clinical
trial of BMS-986288, may include the administration of the product candidate at relatively high dosage levels, which could further
exacerbate such risks. Any ongoing or future clinical trials of our product candidates, including those for CX-904, CX-2029, CX-2051
and CX-801, could face risks related to undesirable side effects, including unacceptable toxicity.
In the event that our clinical trials or the clinical trials of our collaborators reveal severe adverse side effects, our or our collaborators’
clinical trials could be suspended or terminated and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could impose a clinical
hold, order us to cease further development of or deny approval of our product candidates for any or all targeted indications. Such side
effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trial or result in potential product liability
claims. In addition, any occurrences of side effects with respect to one of our product candidates could negatively affect our or any
collaborator’s ability to enroll patients and seek regulatory approval for other product candidates that we have developed using our
PROBODY platform, which could also result in a collaborator terminating any program utilizing our PROBODY platform and the
termination of such collaborative relationship. Any of these occurrences may materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition, results of operations and prospects. Further, clinical trials by their nature utilize a sample of the potential patient population.
With a limited number of patients and limited duration of exposure, rare and severe side effects of our product candidates may only be
uncovered with a significantly larger number of patients exposed to the product candidate.
In the event that any of our product candidates receives regulatory approval and we, our collaborators or others identify undesirable
side effects caused by such product or any other PROBODY therapeutics, any of the following adverse events could occur, which
could result in the loss of significant revenue to us and materially and adversely affect our results of operations and business:
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regulatory authorities may withdraw their approval of the product or seize the product;
we or our collaborators may be required to recall the product or change the way the product is administered to patients;
additional restrictions may be imposed on the marketing of the particular product or the manufacturing processes for the
product or any component thereof;
we may be subject to fines, injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties;
regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a “black box” warning or a
contraindication;
we may be required to create a Medication Guide outlining the risks of such side effects for distribution to patients, or to
conduct post-marketing studies;
we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients;
the product may become less competitive; and
our reputation may suffer.
In addition, adverse side effects caused by any drugs of other companies utilizing the same or similar antibodies of our product
candidates, or that are similar in nature to our product candidates could delay or prevent regulatory approval of our product candidates,
limit the commercial profile of an approved label for our product candidates, or result in significant negative consequences following
marketing approval.
We believe that any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of our product candidates and
could substantially increase the costs of commercializing our product candidates, if approved, and significantly impact our ability to
successfully commercialize our product candidates and generate revenues.
If we experience delays or difficulties in the enrollment of patients in clinical trials, our receipt of necessary regulatory approvals
could be delayed or prevented.
We may not be able to initiate or continue clinical trials for our product candidates if we are unable to locate and enroll a sufficient
number of eligible patients to participate in these trials as required by the FDA or similar regulatory authorities outside the United
States. Patient enrollment, a significant factor in the timing of clinical trials, is affected by many factors, including:
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the severity of the disease or condition under investigation;
the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial;
the design of the clinical trial;
the availability of an appropriate genomic screening test;
the perceived risks and benefits of the product candidate under study;
availability and efficacy of approved therapies for the disease or condition under investigation;
the efforts to facilitate timely enrollment in clinical trials;
the patient referral practices of physicians;
the ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment;
the risk that patients enrolled in clinical trials will drop out of a trial; and
the proximity and availability of clinical trial sites for prospective patients.
In addition, competing clinical trials and clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages of the product candidate
being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs or therapeutic biologics that may be approved for the
indications we are investigating, could affect our ability to enroll a sufficient number of eligible patients in our clinical trials. There
can be no assurance that new or further trials with our current or future drug candidates will not be adversely affected by a limited
patient population. Our clinical trials of CX-2029 studied patients who have one or a select number of specific tumor types rather than
patients suffering from any cancer, which limits the rate of enrollment of the trial. In addition, some of our clinical trials seek to treat
indications with small population sizes which could be particularly difficult to enroll. The clinical trials for our molecules also
compete with thousands of clinical trials with alternative anti-cancer drugs in similar classes (e.g., antibody-drug conjugates), and
certain arms of the clinical trials may be difficult to enroll due to the emerging standard of care for such indications in certain
jurisdictions, including the United States. Likewise, our clinical trial of CX-904 is also competing with thousands of other anti-cancer
clinical trials. Any clinical trials of our product candidates initiated by our collaborators, including Bristol Myers Squibb’s ongoing
and planned Phase 2 clinical trials, face similar and additional risks relating to enrollment. We or our collaborators could also
encounter delays in the development of any of our product candidates if prescribing physicians encounter unresolved ethical issues
associated with enrolling patients in clinical trials of our product candidates in lieu of prescribing existing treatments that have
established safety and efficacy profiles. Any delays relating to patient enrollment could cause significant delays in the timing of our or
our collaborators’ clinical trials, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects.
We are currently conducting and will continue to conduct clinical trials and will contract with third-party manufacturers in
foreign countries, including China, which could expose us to risks that could have a material adverse effect on the success of our
business.
We have enrolled or are planning to enroll patients in our clinical trials outside the United States, including in Europe and South
Korea. While we generally conduct our clinical trials primarily or partially in the U.S., the acceptance of study data from clinical trials
conducted outside the U.S. or another jurisdiction by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authority may be subject to certain
conditions or may not be accepted at all. In cases where data from foreign clinical trials are intended to serve as the sole basis for
marketing approval in the U.S., the FDA will generally not approve the application on the basis of foreign data alone unless (i) the
data are applicable to the U.S. population and U.S. medical practice; (ii) the trials were performed by clinical investigators of
recognized competence and pursuant to good clinical practices (“GCPs”) regulations; and (iii) the data may be considered valid
without the need for an on-site inspection by the FDA, or if the FDA considers such inspection to be necessary, the FDA is able to
validate the data through an on-site inspection or other appropriate means. In addition, even where the foreign study data are not
intended to serve as the sole basis for approval, if the trial was not subject to an IND, the FDA will not accept the data as support for
an application for marketing approval unless the study was well-designed and well-conducted in accordance with GCP requirements
and the FDA is able to validate the data from the study through an onsite inspection, if deemed necessary. Many foreign regulatory
authorities 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 or any comparable foreign regulatory
authority will accept data from trials conducted outside of the U.S. or the applicable jurisdiction. If the FDA or any comparable
foreign regulatory authority does not accept such data, it would result in the need for additional trials, which could be costly and time-
consuming, and which may result in current or future product candidates that we may develop not receiving approval for
commercialization in the applicable jurisdiction.
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In addition, we currently contract manufacturing operations to third parties, and certain of our product candidates are manufactured by
and will in the future be manufactured by third parties outside the U.S., including in China. For example, we have a contract with a
third-party manufacturer located in China for our CX-801 product candidate and accordingly we are exposed to the possibility of drug
product supply disruption, delay and increased costs in the event of changes in the policies of the U.S. or Chinese governments,
political unrest or unstable economic conditions in China.
Further, in January 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the BIOSECURE Act (H.R. 7085) and the Senate advance a
substantially similar bill (S.3558), which legislation, if passed and enacted into law, would have the potential to restrict the ability of
U.S. biopharmaceutical companies like us to purchase services or products from, or otherwise collaborate with, certain Chinese
biotechnology companies “of concern”, including a third-party manufacturer we use for certain product candidates, without losing the
ability to contract with, or otherwise receive funding from, the U.S. government.
Conducting clinical trials and contracting with third-party manufacturers outside the United States also exposes us to additional risks,
including risks associated with additional foreign regulatory requirements; foreign exchange fluctuations; patient monitoring and
compliance; compliance with foreign manufacturing, customs, shipment and storage requirements; and cultural differences in medical
practice and clinical research. We are also subject to risks associated with doing business globally, including commercial, political,
and financial risks. In addition, we are subject to potential disruption caused by military conflicts; potentially unstable governments or
legal systems; civil or political upheaval or unrest; local labor policies and conditions; possible expropriation, nationalization, or
confiscation of assets; problems with repatriation of foreign earnings; economic or trade sanctions; closure of markets to imports; anti-
American sentiment; terrorism or other types of violence in or outside the United States; health pandemics; and a significant reduction
in global travel. Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to overcome the challenges we encounter with respect to these risks
and other factors affecting U.S. companies with global operations. If our global clinical trials or foreign third-party suppliers were to
experience significant disruption due to these risks or for other reasons, it could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Because we have no long-term contracts with and rely on third-party manufacturing and supply partners, most of which are sole
source suppliers, our supply of research and development, preclinical and clinical development materials may become limited or
interrupted or may not be of satisfactory quantity or quality.
We rely on third-party contract manufacturers to manufacture our clinical trial and preclinical study product supplies, some of which
are located in foreign countries. Most of our clinical trial manufacturing contractors and suppliers are our sole source for their
respective manufacturing and supplies. Failure of any of these contractors could put our ability to have clinical trial material available
when needed at risk. Any such failure to have clinical trial material available when needed could result in a substantial delay of our
clinical trials. For each of CX-904, CX-2051 and CX-801 our manufacturing supply chain includes several contract manufacturers,
and failure by any of these manufacturers could result in interruptions of our clinical studies. For example, beginning in October 2023,
one of our contract manufacturers of CX-2051 experienced production failures. Although we are taking steps to manage our long-term
supply of CX-2051, there can be no assurance that we will not have future production failures, which could affect our ability to
conduct our trials for CX-2051 or any other clinical trial drug candidates, including CX-801 and CX-904, on our planned timeline or
at all. We do not own manufacturing facilities for producing such supplies and do not have any long-term contracts and we do not
currently have an alternative to any of our third-party contract manufacturers. There can be no assurance that our preclinical and
clinical development product supplies will not be limited, interrupted, or of satisfactory quality or continue to be available at
acceptable prices. In particular, any replacement of any of our third-party contract manufacturers could require significant effort and
expertise because there may be a limited number of qualified replacements. In addition, we may encounter issues with transferring
technology to a new third-party manufacturer, and we may encounter regulatory delays if we need to move the manufacturing of our
products from one third-party manufacturer to another.
The manufacturing process for a product candidate is subject to FDA and foreign regulatory authority review. Suppliers and
manufacturers must meet applicable manufacturing requirements and undergo rigorous facility and process validation tests required by
regulatory authorities in order to comply with regulatory standards, such as current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMPs”). In the
event that any of our manufacturers fails to comply with such requirements or to perform its obligations to us in relation to quality,
timing or otherwise, such as the CX-2051 manufacturing production failures our contract manufacturer experienced in 2023, or if our
supply of components or other materials becomes limited or interrupted for other reasons, such as one of our manufacturers going out
of business, we may be forced to manufacture the materials ourselves, for which we currently do not have the capabilities or resources,
or enter into an agreement with another third party, which we may not be able to do on reasonable terms, if at all. In some cases, the
technical skills or technology required to manufacture our product candidates may be unique or proprietary to the original
manufacturer and we may have difficulty transferring such skills or technology to another third party and a feasible alternative may
not exist. These factors would increase our reliance on such manufacturer or require us to obtain a license from such manufacturer in
order to have another third party manufacture our product candidates. If we are required to change manufacturers for any reason, we
will be required to verify that the new manufacturer maintains facilities and procedures that comply with quality standards and with all
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applicable regulations and guidelines. The delays associated with the verification of a new manufacturer could negatively affect our
ability to develop product candidates in a timely manner or within budget.
We expect to continue to rely on third-party manufacturers if we receive regulatory approval for any product candidate. To the extent
that we have existing, or enter into future, manufacturing arrangements with third parties, we will depend on these third parties to
perform their obligations in a timely manner consistent with contractual and regulatory requirements, including those related to quality
control and assurance. If we are unable to obtain or maintain third-party manufacturing for product candidates, or to do so on
commercially reasonable terms, we may not be able to develop and commercialize our product candidates successfully. We may find
that our third-party manufacturer is unable to scale up the process in order to produce commercial quantities of our products. Our or a
third party’s failure to execute on our manufacturing requirements and comply with cGMPs could adversely affect our business in a
number of ways, including:
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an inability to initiate or continue clinical trials of product candidates under development;
delay in submitting regulatory applications, or receiving regulatory approvals, for product candidates;
loss of the cooperation of a collaborator;
subjecting third-party manufacturing facilities or our manufacturing facilities to additional inspections by regulatory
authorities;
requirements to cease distribution or to recall batches of our product candidates; and
in the event of approval to market and commercialize a product candidate, an inability to meet commercial demands for
our products.
The supply chain for the manufacturing of our product candidates is complicated and can involve many parties. This is especially the
case for our clinical-stage conditionally activated ADCs. If we were to experience any supply chain issues, our product supply could
be seriously disrupted. In addition, we expect the logistical challenges associated with our supply chain to grow more complex as
additional product candidates commence any clinical trials.
We, or third-party manufacturers, may be unable to successfully scale-up manufacturing of our product candidates in sufficient
quality and quantity, which would delay or prevent us from developing our product candidates and commercializing approved
products, if any.
It may prove more challenging than we anticipate to manufacture products that incorporate our PROBODY therapeutic technology. In
order to conduct clinical trials of our product candidates, including our clinical trials for CX-904, CX-2051 and CX-801 we will need
to manufacture them in large quantities. There can be no assurance that we will not have future production failures, which could affect
our ability to conduct our trials for CX-904 or any other clinical trial drug candidates, including CX-801 and CX-2051, on our planned
timeline or at all. Furthermore, in order to conduct later stage clinical trials of our product candidates and eventually, if approved,
commercial products, we will need to manufacture them in larger quantities. We, or any manufacturing partners, may be unable to
successfully increase the manufacturing scale and capacity for any of our product candidates in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at
all. However, we may have to start late-stage trials with our early clinical trial drug product and switch to late-stage or commercial
drug product mid trial. In such event, the FDA will require us to complete bridging studies to compare the earlier stage material with
late-stage or commercial material to assure comparability between the earlier trial material and the late- stage or commercial material.
Changing formulation and scaling up the process is a complicated and difficult task. While we believe we can complete this process
successfully, there can be no assurances that the changes we make to the drug product and manufacturing process will be successful or
completed in a timely manner or that the FDA will not require additional development steps or studies from those we believe are
necessary. If we are not able to scale up our manufacturing capabilities with respect to any of our product candidates, increase the life
of drug stability of product candidates, or successfully complete the FDA’s bridging requirements, the development, testing, and
clinical trials of that product candidate may be delayed or infeasible, and regulatory approval or commercial launch of any resulting
product may be delayed or not obtained, which could significantly harm our business.
Our approach to the discovery and development of our therapeutic treatments is based on novel technologies that are unproven
and may not result in marketable products.
We plan to continue to develop a pipeline of product candidates using our proprietary PROBODY platform. We believe that product
candidates (including cancer immunotherapies, conditionally activated ADCs and bispecific antibodies) identified with our product
discovery platform may offer an improved therapeutic approach by taking advantage of unique conditions in the tumor
microenvironment, thereby reducing the dose-limiting toxic effects associated with traditional antibody products, which can also
attack healthy tissue. However, the scientific research that forms the basis of our efforts to develop product candidates based on our
PROBODY platform is ongoing, including the research resulting from our ongoing clinical trial for CX-904.
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We may ultimately discover that our PROBODY platform and any product candidates resulting from it do not possess certain
properties required for therapeutic effectiveness or protection from toxicity. For example, when PROBODY therapeutics are
administered to human subjects, protease levels in tumors may not be sufficient and the peptide mask may not be cleaved, which
would limit the potential efficacy of the antibody. In addition, if the peptide mask is inappropriately released, for example, due to an
inflammatory disease, it may reduce the potential to limit toxicity of the anti-cancer agent or result in unforeseen events when
administered in humans. Binding of the peptide mask to the antigen-binding domain of the PROBODY may not be constant, which
could lead to intermittent periods when the antigen-binding domain or antibody portion is unmasked. Furthermore, PROBODY
product candidates may not remain stable in the human body for the period of time required for the drug to reach and to bind to the
target tissue. In addition, product candidates based on our PROBODY platform may demonstrate different chemical and
pharmacological properties in patients than they do in laboratory studies. Although our PROBODY platform and certain product
candidates have demonstrated successful results in animal studies, they may not demonstrate the same chemical and pharmacological
properties in humans and may interact with human biological systems in unforeseen, ineffective, or harmful ways. Our understanding
of the molecular pharmacology of PROBODY therapeutics, that is, the precise manner and sequence in which they are activated and
behave in vivo, is incomplete. PROBODY therapeutics are complex biological molecules and we are evaluating the performance of
this new technology in cancer patients for the first time. Many specific elements of PROBODY therapeutic function may contribute to
their overall safety and efficacy profile including, but not limited to, the removal of only one mask from the dually-masked antibody,
the removal of both masks from the dually-masked antibody, the binding strength of masks for the underlying antibody, and the
binding strength of the underlying antibody for its target. We have limited structural evidence for how masks interact with antibodies.
It may take many years before we develop a full understanding of PROBODY pharmacology, and we may never know precisely how
they function in vivo. As with any new biologic or product developed on a novel platform, we have a limited understanding of the
immunogenicity profile of PROBODY therapeutics. As a result, our PROBODY product candidates may trigger immune responses,
such as anti-drug antibody (“ADA”), that may inhibit the ability of the antibody to reach the target tissue, inhibit the ability of the
antibody to bind to its target, cause adverse side effects in humans or cause hypersensitivity reactions. For example, we reported in
February 2019 that in our pacmilimab trial at the 10 mg/kg dose, the ADA rate was approximately 62%. We do not believe the ADA
rate impacted our ability to reach targeted drug exposures. However, we cannot provide assurance that it will not later limit drug
exposure or cause severe adverse events for our other drug candidates. Problems that are specific to our PROBODY platform may
have an unfavorable impact on all of our product candidates. As a result, we may never succeed in developing a marketable product
and we may never become profitable, which would cause the value of our common stock to decline.
In addition, the scientific evidence to support the feasibility of developing product candidates against novel, difficult to drug targets, is
both preliminary and limited. For example, our understanding of the expression of CD166, CD71 and other drug targets in both
healthy and diseased tissues is still developing. As a result, we cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to successfully
identify and advance any product candidates to target novel, difficult-to-drug targets.
Additionally, we recently entered into a collaboration with Moderna for the development of mRNA based product candidates. We do
not know whether our PROBODY platform will be able to successfully develop product candidates utilizing this mRNA technology.
We believe that the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities have limited experience with conditionally activated therapeutics in
oncology, such experience primarily coming from praluzatamab ravtansine, CX-2029, BMS-986249, BMS-986288, and pacmilimab.
We believe that such limited experience may increase the complexity, uncertainty and length of the regulatory approval process for
our product candidates and may keep us from commencing first-in-human trials in certain countries. As there is limited historical
precedent for the regulatory approval of conditionally activated therapeutics in oncology, there is a higher degree of risk that the FDA
or other regulatory authorities could disagree that we or our collaborators have satisfied their requirements to commence clinical trials
for some product candidates or disagree with our study designs, which may require us to complete additional preclinical studies or
amend our protocols or impose stricter conditions on the commencement of clinical trials. In addition, local clinical practice in other
countries may affect whether we or our collaborators are able to initiate a clinical trial there. As a result, we and our collaborators may
never receive approval to market and commercialize any product candidate. Even if we or our collaborators obtain regulatory
approval, the approval may be for targets, disease indications or patient populations that are not as broad as we or they intended or
desired or may require labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings. We or our collaborators
may be required to perform additional or unanticipated clinical trials to obtain approval or be subject to post-marketing testing
requirements to maintain regulatory approval. If one or more of our product candidates or our PROBODY technology generally prove
to be ineffective, unsafe or commercially unviable, our entire platform and pipeline may have little, if any, value, which would have a
material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The market may not be receptive to our product candidates based on a novel therapeutic modality, and we may not generate any
future revenue from the sale or licensing of product candidates.
Even if regulatory approval is obtained for a product candidate, we may not generate or sustain revenue from sales of the product due
to factors such as whether the product can be sold at a competitive cost and whether it will otherwise be accepted in the market. The
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product candidates that we are developing are based on our PROBODY platform, which is a new technology and therapeutic
approach. Market participants with significant influence over acceptance of new treatments, such as physicians and third-party payors,
may not adopt a product or treatment based on our PROBODY platform and technologies, and we may not be able to convince the
medical community and third-party payors to accept and use, or to provide favorable reimbursement for, any product candidates
developed by us or our collaborators. This may be particularly true for any of our product candidates for which there are existing
approved therapies. Market acceptance of our product candidates will depend on, among other factors:
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the timing of our receipt of any marketing and commercialization approvals;
the terms of any approvals and the countries in which approvals are obtained;
the safety, purity, potency (or efficacy) of our product candidates, including those being developed by our collaborators;
the prevalence and severity of any adverse side effects associated with our product candidates;
limitations or warnings contained in any labeling approved by the FDA or other regulatory authority;
the availability of effective companion diagnostics;
relative convenience and ease of administration of our product candidates;
the willingness of patients to accept any new methods of administration;
the success of our physician education programs;
the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from government and third-party payors;
the pricing of our products, particularly as compared to alternative treatments; and
the availability of alternative effective treatments for the disease indications our product candidates are intended to treat
and the relative risks, benefits and costs of those treatments.
If any product candidate we commercialize fails to achieve market acceptance, it could have a material and adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We have entered, and may in the future seek to enter, into collaborations with third parties for the development and
commercialization of our product candidates using our PROBODY platform. If we fail to enter into such collaborations, or such
collaborations are not successful, we may not be able to capitalize on the market potential of our PROBODY platform and
resulting product candidates.
Since 2013, we have entered into collaborations with AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, ImmunoGen, Moderna, Pfizer,
Regeneron and others to develop certain PROBODY therapeutics. We may in the future seek third-party collaborators for
development and commercialization of other therapeutic technologies or product candidates. Biopharmaceutical companies are our
prior and likely future collaborators for any marketing, distribution, development, licensing or broader collaboration arrangements.
With respect to our existing collaboration agreements, and what we expect will be the case with any future collaboration agreements,
we have and would expect to have limited control over whether such collaborations pursue the development of our product candidates
or the amount and timing of resources that such collaborators dedicate to the development or commercialization of our product
candidates. For instance, in March 2023, AbbVie terminated the collaboration agreement for CX-2029 and the ongoing discovery
agreement we had entered into with them in 2016. Our partners have chosen multiple targets for research, some of which continue to
be advanced and others which do not continue to advance. Our partners will continue to choose early research targets from time to
time, some of which will advance into further research and development and some of which will not. For example, in January 2023,
Bristol Myers Squibb announced that it would deprioritize the Phase 2 clinical program for BMS-986249 and advance the BMS-
986288 into a Phase 2 program and on March 6, 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb notified us that it would not continue the BMS-986288
program. As a result, there can be no assurances that any of the programs covered by our existing or future collaborations will be
developed further. Further, our ability to generate revenues from our existing and future arrangements will depend on our
collaborators’ abilities to successfully perform the functions assigned to them in these arrangements. Additionally, some of our
collaborations may require us to share in certain development and commercialization expenses. If we cannot afford to share such
expenses when required, our rights under such collaborations may be adversely affected, including potentially that our collaborators
may terminate the relevant agreement. Overall, collaborations involving our product candidates currently pose, and will continue to
pose, the following risks to us:
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collaborators have significant discretion in determining the amount and timing of efforts and resources that they will apply
to these collaborations, including, with respect to Amgen, CX-904;
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collaborators may not pursue development and commercialization of our product candidates or may elect not to continue
or renew development or commercialization programs based on preclinical or clinical trial results, changes in the
collaborators’ strategic focus or available funding or resources, or external factors such as an acquisition that diverts
resources or creates competing priorities;
collaborators have significant discretion in designing any clinical trials they operate pursuant to our collaboration
agreements and may release data from such clinical trials, including with respect to our PROBODY therapeutics, without
consulting us;
collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding 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 and are not necessarily required to give us information about their clinical data;
collaborators may independently develop, or develop with third parties, products that compete directly or indirectly with
our product candidate 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 with marketing and distribution rights to one or more products may not commit sufficient resources to the
marketing and distribution of such product or products;
collaborators may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our proprietary information
in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property or proprietary information
or expose us to litigation or potential liability;
collaborators may infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of third parties, which may
expose us to litigation and potential liability;
disputes may arise between the collaborators and us that result in the delay or termination of the research, development or
commercialization of our product candidate or that result in costly litigation or arbitration that diverts management
attention and resources; and
collaborations may be terminated and, if terminated, may result in a need for additional capital to pursue further
development or commercialization of the applicable product candidates.
For example, in January 2023, we announced topline results of the Phase 2 expansion cohorts of CX-2029 and in March 2023, AbbVie
decided not to continue the future development of CX-2029.
As a result of the foregoing, our current and any future collaboration agreements may not lead to development or commercialization of
our product candidates in the most efficient manner or at all and may not result in the realization of the benefits we expected to
achieve upon our entry into such agreements. Any failure to successfully develop or commercialize our product candidates pursuant to
our current or any future collaboration agreements could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects.
If our collaborators cease development efforts under our collaboration agreements, or if any of those agreements are terminated,
these collaborations may fail to lead to commercial products and we may never receive milestone payments or future royalties
under these agreements.
Substantially all of our revenue to date has been derived from our existing collaboration agreements, including, most recently, the
agreements that we entered into with Regeneron and Moderna in 2022, and a significant portion of our future revenue and cash
resources is expected to be derived from these agreements or other similar agreements we may enter into in the future. Revenue from
research and development collaborations depend upon continuation of the collaborations, reimbursement of development costs, the
achievement of milestones and royalties, if any, derived from future products developed from our research. If our development
partners do not select additional targets and we are unable to successfully advance the development of our product candidates or
achieve milestones, revenue and cash resources from milestone payments under our collaboration agreements will be substantially less
than expected.
In addition, to the extent that any of our collaborators were to terminate a collaboration agreement, we may decide to independently
develop these product candidates to the extent we retain development rights. Such development could include funding preclinical or
clinical trials, assuming marketing and distribution costs and defending intellectual property rights. Alternatively, in certain instances,
we may choose to abandon product candidates altogether. For instance, in March 2023, AbbVie terminated our 2016 CD71 License
and Collaboration Agreement, and from time to time some of our research programs have been terminated by our partners. The
termination of any of our collaboration agreements or individual programs within a collaboration agreement could result in a change
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to our business plan and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. If
a collaboration is terminated, we would not be eligible to receive the milestone, royalty or other payments that would have been
payable under the collaboration agreement. For example, as a result of ImmunoGen’s decision to out-license the EpCAM program and
our licensing of the program from them in 2019, their license for the program from us ended and we will not receive milestone or
other payments from them. Additionally, on March 6, 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb notified us that it would not continue the BMS-
986288 program and we will not receive any milestone or other payments from them on this program.
If we do not achieve our projected development and commercialization goals in the timeframes we announce and expect the
commercialization of any of our product candidates may be delayed, or never attained, and our business will be harmed.
For planning purposes, we sometimes estimate the timing of the accomplishment of various scientific, clinical, regulatory and other
product development objectives. These milestones may include our expectations regarding the commencement or completion of
scientific studies and clinical trials, the submission of regulatory filings, or commercialization objectives. From time to time, we may
publicly announce the expected timing of some of these milestones, such as the completion of an ongoing clinical trial, the initiation
of other clinical programs, receipt of marketing approval, or a commercial launch of a product. The achievement of many of these
milestones may be outside of our control. All of these milestones are based on a variety of assumptions which may cause the timing of
achievement of the milestones to vary considerably from our estimates, including:
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our available capital resources or capital constraints we experience;
the rate of progress, costs and results of our clinical trials and research and development activities, including the extent of
scheduling conflicts with participating clinicians and collaborators;
our ability to identify and enroll patients who meet clinical trial eligibility criteria;
our receipt of approvals by the FDA and other regulatory authorities and the timing thereof;
other actions, decisions or rules issued by regulators;
our ability to access sufficient, reliable and affordable supplies of materials used in the manufacture of our product
candidates;
our ability to manufacture and supply clinical trial materials to our clinical sites on a timely basis;
the efforts of our collaborators with respect to the commercialization of our products; and
the securing of, costs related to, and timing issues associated with, product manufacturing as well as sales and marketing
activities.
For example, in March 2020, we announced the temporary pause in new patient enrollment and new site activation in our Phase 2
clinical trial of praluzatamab ravtansine (CX-2009) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the termination of the Phase 2 clinical
trial of pacmilimab (CX-072) in combination with ipilimumab after a re-evaluation of the evolving clinical, competitive and
commercial landscapes in immuno-oncology, taken together with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, in July 2022,
we announced that we would cease to continue the praluzatamab ravtansine program without a partner.
If we fail to achieve announced milestones in the timeframes we expect the commercialization of any of our product candidates may
be delayed or never attained, and our business and results of operations may be harmed.
We may not successfully engage in strategic transactions, including any additional collaborations we seek, which could adversely
affect our ability to develop and commercialize product candidates, impact our cash position, increase our expense and present
significant distractions to our management.
Since commencing operations, we have entered into several collaboration agreements. Most recently, in November 2022 and
December 2022, we entered into strategic collaborations with Regeneron and Moderna, respectively. From time to time, we may
consider additional strategic transactions, such as additional collaborations, acquisitions of companies, asset purchases and out- or in-
licensing of product candidates or technologies. In particular, we will evaluate and, if strategically attractive, seek to enter into
additional collaborations, including with major biotechnology or biopharmaceutical companies. In July 2022, in connection with our
announcement of Phase 2 topline results for praluzatamab ravtansine, we communicated our plans to seek collaborators to advance the
program further. The competition for collaborators is intense and there can be no assurances that we will be able to secure any
collaboration for praluzatamab ravtansine or any other program. The negotiation process for strategic collaborations is time-
consuming and complex. Any new collaboration may be on terms that are not optimal for us, and we may not be able to maintain any
new collaboration if, for example, development or approval of a product candidate is delayed, sales of an approved product candidate
do not meet expectations or the collaborator terminates the collaboration. Any such collaboration, or other strategic transaction, may
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require us to incur non-recurring or other charges, increase our near- and long-term expenditures and pose significant integration or
implementation challenges or disrupt our management or business. These transactions would entail numerous operational and
financial risks, including exposure to unknown liabilities, disruption of our business and diversion of our management’s time and
attention in order to manage a collaboration or develop acquired products, product candidates or technologies, incurrence of
substantial debt or dilutive issuances of equity securities to pay transaction consideration or costs, higher than expected collaboration,
acquisition or integration costs, write-downs of assets or goodwill or impairment charges, increased amortization expenses, difficulty
and cost in facilitating the collaboration or combining the operations and personnel of any acquired business, impairment of
relationships with key suppliers, manufacturers or customers of any acquired business due to changes in management and ownership
and the inability to retain key employees of any acquired business. Accordingly, although there can be no assurance that we will
undertake or successfully complete any transactions of the nature described above, any transactions that we do complete may be
subject to the foregoing or other risks and have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations
and prospects. The termination by a collaborator of a collaboration may cause a decrease in the price of our stock. Conversely, any
failure to enter any additional collaboration or other strategic transaction that would be beneficial to us could delay the development
and potential commercialization of our product candidates and have a negative impact on the competitiveness of any product
candidate that reaches market.
If we are unable to successfully develop companion diagnostic tests for certain of our product candidates, or experience significant
delays in doing so, we may not realize the full commercial potential of our product candidates.
Because we are focused on precision medicine, in which predictive biomarkers will be used to identify the right patients for our
product candidates, we believe that our success may depend, in part, on the development of companion diagnostic tests. To
successfully develop a companion diagnostic test, we would need to address a number of scientific, technical and logistical challenges.
However, we have little experience in the development of companion diagnostic tests and may not be successful in developing
appropriate tests to pair with any of our product candidates. Companion diagnostic tests are developed in conjunction with clinical
programs for the associated product candidate and are subject to regulation by the FDA and similar regulatory authorities outside the
United States as medical devices and require separate regulatory approval prior to commercialization. Specifically, according to FDA
guidance, if the FDA determines that a companion diagnostic device is essential to the safe and effective use of a novel therapeutic
product or indication, the FDA generally will not approve the therapeutic product or new therapeutic product indication if the
companion diagnostic is not also approved or cleared for that indication. The approval or clearance of a companion diagnostic as part
of the therapeutic product’s further labeling limits the use of the therapeutic product to only those patients who express the specific
characteristic that the companion diagnostic was developed to detect.
Given our limited experience in developing companion diagnostic tests, we could seek to rely on third parties to design, manufacture,
and obtain regulatory approval for any companion diagnostic tests for our product candidates. However, we and such collaborators
may encounter difficulties in developing and obtaining approval for the companion diagnostic tests, including issues relating to
selectivity/specificity, analytical validation, reproducibility, or clinical validation. Any delay or failure by us or our collaborators to
develop or obtain regulatory approval of the companion diagnostic tests could delay or prevent approval of our product candidates. As
a result, our business would be harmed, possibly materially.
We rely on third parties to conduct all of our clinical trials and certain of our preclinical studies and intend to continue to do so,
and if such third parties do not perform as contractually required, fail to satisfy regulatory or legal requirements or miss expected
deadlines, our development programs could be delayed with material and adverse effects on our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects.
We do not have the ability to independently conduct clinical trials. As such, we currently rely and intend to continue to rely on third-
party clinical investigators, CROs, clinical data management organizations and consultants to help us design, conduct, supervise and
monitor clinical trials of our product candidates. As a result, we will have less control over the timing, quality and other aspects of our
clinical trials than we would have had we conducted them on our own. These investigators, CROs and consultants are not our
employees and we have limited control over the amount of time and resources that they dedicate to our programs. These third parties
may have contractual relationships with other entities, some of which may be our competitors, which may draw time and resources
from our programs. The third parties with which we contract might not be diligent, careful or timely in conducting our preclinical
studies or clinical trials, resulting in the preclinical studies or clinical trials being delayed or unsuccessful.
If we cannot contract with acceptable third parties on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or if these third parties do not carry out
their contractual duties, satisfy legal and regulatory requirements for the conduct of preclinical studies or clinical trials or meet
expected deadlines, our clinical development programs could be delayed and otherwise adversely affected. In all events, we will be
responsible for ensuring that each of our preclinical studies and clinical trials are conducted in accordance with the general
investigational plan and protocols for the trial, as well as applicable laws and regulations. The FDA requires preclinical studies to be
conducted in accordance with good laboratory practices (“GLPs”) and clinical trials to be conducted in accordance with GCPs and
other applicable regulations, including for designing, conducting, recording and reporting the results of preclinical studies and clinical
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trials to assure that data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of clinical trial
participants are protected. Regulatory authorities enforce GCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators
and trial sites. Our reliance on third parties that we do not control will not relieve us of these responsibilities and requirements. If we
or any of our CROs or trial sites fail to comply with applicable GLP, GCP or other requirements, the data generated in our clinical
trials may be deemed unreliable, and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional
clinical trials before approving our marketing applications, if ever.
In addition, principal investigators for our clinical trials may be asked to serve as scientific advisors or consultants to us from time to
time and may compensation in connection with such services. If these relationships and any related compensation result in perceived
or actual conflicts of interest, or the FDA concludes that the financial relationship may have affected the interpretation of the study,
the integrity of the data generated at the applicable clinical trial site may be questioned and the utility of the clinical trial itself may be
jeopardized, which could result in the delay or rejection by the FDA of any BLA we submit. Any such delay or rejection could prevent
us from commercializing our product candidates.
Though we work to carefully manage our relationships with our CROs, investigators and other third parties, there can be no assurance
that we will not encounter challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a material adverse impact
on our business, financial condition and prospects.
We may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular product candidate and fail to capitalize on product candidates that
may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.
Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we focus on specific product candidates and indications. For example, in
July 2022, we announced that we would not continue the development of pralauzatamab ravtansine without a partner. Additionally, in
November 2023 we decided to not to make any further significant investments in the CX-2029 solid tumor program in the near-term.
As a result, we may forgo or delay pursuit of opportunities with those products in other indications or with other product candidates
that later prove to have greater commercial potential. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable
commercial products or profitable market opportunities. Our spending on current and future research and development programs and
product candidates for specific indications may not yield any commercially viable product candidates. If we do not accurately evaluate
the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that product
candidate through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for
us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate.
We may experience difficulties in managing our growth and expanding when needed.
Over the last few years, we have expanded our workforce and activities to manage our expanding pipeline, including Phase 2 clinical
trials. However, in July 2022, we announced we will not advance praluzatamab ravtansine into further clinical trials and will seek a
partner for the program. As a result, we announced that we would reduce our workforce, primarily development and general and
administrative staff, by approximately 40%. In the future we may need to grow our organization substantially to continue development
and pursue the potential commercialization of our product candidates, including CX-801 and CX-2051, as well as function as a public
company. As we increase the number of our product candidates entering and advancing through preclinical studies and clinical trials,
we will need to expand our development, regulatory and manufacturing capabilities or contract with additional organizations to
provide these capabilities for us. In addition, we expect our collaborations to require greater resources as the development of our
product candidates under such agreements progresses. In the future, we expect to also have to manage additional relationships with
collaborators or partners, including Regeneron and Moderna, suppliers and other organizations. In particular, if the third parties on
which we currently rely are not capable of delivering services or supplies in a manner that is sufficient to meet our requirements as we
expand our operations, we could be required to contract with new third parties and there can be no assurances that the services or
supplies of such third parties will be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Furthermore, our ability to manage our
operations and future growth will require us to continue to increase headcount as well as improve our operational, financial and
management controls, reporting systems and procedures. We may not be able to implement improvements to our management
information and control systems in an efficient or timely manner and may discover deficiencies in existing systems and controls.
We face competition from entities that have developed or may develop product candidates for cancer, including companies
developing novel treatments and technology platforms. If these companies develop technologies or product candidates more rapidly
than we do or their technologies are more effective, our ability to develop and successfully commercialize product candidates may
be adversely affected.
The development and commercialization of drugs and therapeutic biologics is highly competitive. We compete with a variety of
multinational biopharmaceutical companies and specialized biotechnology companies, as well as technology being developed at
universities and other research institutions. Our competitors have developed, are developing or will develop product candidates and
processes competitive with our product candidates. Competitive therapeutic treatments include those that have already been approved
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and accepted by the medical community and any new treatments that enter the market. We believe that a significant number of
products are currently under development, and may become commercially available in the future, for the treatment of conditions for
which we may try to develop product candidates. Additionally, there is intense and rapidly evolving competition in the biotechnology,
biopharmaceutical and antibody and immunoregulatory therapeutics fields, and our competitors include larger and better funded
biopharmaceutical, biotechnological and therapeutics companies. In addition, these companies compete with us in recruiting scientific
and managerial talent.
We believe that while our PROBODY platform, its associated intellectual property and our scientific and technical know-how, give us
a competitive advantage in this space, competition from many sources remains. The clinical development pipeline for cancer includes
small molecules, antibodies and therapies from a variety of groups. In addition, numerous compounds are in clinical development for
cancer treatment. As a result, our success will partially depend on our ability to develop and protect therapeutics that are safer and
more effective than competing products. Our commercial opportunity and success will be reduced or eliminated if competing products
that are safer, more effective, or less expensive than the therapeutics we develop or if we are unable to utilize our PROBODY
therapeutic technology to differentiate our PROBODY therapeutics from the products of our competitors. For instance, if any of our
product candidates are approved, they will compete with a range of therapeutic treatments that are either in development or currently
marketed. A variety of oncology drugs and therapeutic biologics are currently on the market or in clinical development. Given the
amount of time required to successfully develop and obtain regulatory approval for each of our product candidates, it is therefore
possible that by the time we obtain any such approval, if ever, and commence sales, we may no longer be able to differentiate such
product candidate from those of our competitors.
We face substantial competition from pharmaceutical companies developing products in oncology, including companies such as
Amgen, AstraZeneca PLC, Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck & Co., Inc. Novartis AG, Pfizer, Roche Holding Ltd.
and Sanofi SA. Many large and mid-sized biotech companies, including BeiGene, Incyte, Nektar, and Alkermes have ongoing efforts
in cancer immunotherapy. Several companies, including Adagene, Amgen, Sanofi, BioAtla, Halozyme, Harpoon Therapeutics, Roche,
Seagen, Takeda, Werewolf Therapeutics, and Xilio are exploring antibody masking and/or conditional activation strategies, which
could compete with our PROBODY platform. We are also aware of several companies that are developing ADCs, such as AbbVie,
ADC Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead, ImmunoGen, Merck & Co., Mersana Therapeutics, Pfizer, Roche Holding Ltd. Seagen
and Takeda. Furthermore, several large pharmaceutical companies, including Amgen, Novartis AG and Roche Holding Ltd., are
developing T-cell engaging immunotherapies, and we are aware of several mid-sized biotech companies, such as MacroGenics and
Xencor, and small companies with ongoing efforts to develop T-cell engaging immunotherapies. Any of these companies may be well
capitalized and may have significant clinical experience. In addition, these companies include our collaborators.
Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, sales and supply resources or
experience than we do. If we successfully obtain approval for any product candidate, we will face competition based on many
different factors, including the safety and effectiveness of our products, the ease with which our products can be administered and the
extent to which patients accept relatively new routes of administration, the timing and scope of regulatory approvals for these
products, the availability and cost of manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities, price, reimbursement coverage and patent
position. Competing products could present superior treatment alternatives, including by being more effective, safer, less expensive or
marketed and sold more effectively than any products we may develop. Competitive products may make any products we develop less
differentiated or noncompetitive before we recover the expense of developing and commercializing our product candidates. Such
competitors could also recruit our employees, which could negatively impact our level of expertise and our ability to execute our
business plan.
Any inability to attract and retain qualified key management and technical personnel would impair our ability to implement our
business plan.
Our success largely depends on the continued service of key management, advisors and other specialized personnel, including Sean A.
McCarthy, D.Phil., our chief executive officer and chairman. The loss of one or more members of our management team or other key
employees or advisors could delay our research and development programs and have a material and adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The relationships that our key managers have cultivated within our industry
make us particularly dependent upon their continued employment with us. We are dependent on the continued service of our technical
personnel because of the highly technical nature of our product candidates and technologies and the specialized nature of the
regulatory approval process. Because our management team and key employees are not obligated to provide us with continued service,
they could terminate their employment with us at any time without penalty. In particular, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the
ability of employees to engage in a remote working environment increased the competitive landscape across the country for us in
seeking qualified employees. Employees are now able to consider opportunities across the country and it may be more difficult to hire
employees. Furthermore, it is more difficult to engage employees in Company culture and build working rapport when they are
working remotely. As a result, it may be more difficult to retain employees on a long-term basis. Our future success will depend in
large part on our continued ability to attract and retain other highly qualified scientific, technical and management personnel, as well
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as personnel with expertise in clinical testing, manufacturing, governmental regulation and commercialization. We face competition
for personnel from other companies, universities, public and private research institutions, government entities and other organizations,
especially as job opportunities in the biotechnology industry have recently increased significantly in the San Francisco Bay Area and
across the country.
If any of our product candidates are approved for marketing and commercialization and we are unable to develop sales, marketing
and distribution capabilities on our own or enter into agreements with third parties to perform these functions on acceptable terms,
we will be unable to commercialize successfully any such future products.
We currently have no sales, marketing or distribution capabilities or experience. If any of our product candidates is approved, we will
need to develop internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize such products, which would be expensive and
time-consuming, or enter into collaborations with third parties to perform these services. If we decide to market our products directly,
we will need to commit significant financial and managerial resources to develop a marketing and sales force with technical expertise
and supporting distribution, administration and compliance capabilities. If we rely on third parties with such capabilities to market our
products or decide to co-promote products with collaborators, we will need to establish and maintain marketing and distribution
arrangements with third parties, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into such arrangements on acceptable terms
or at all. In entering into third-party marketing or distribution arrangements, any revenue we receive will depend upon the efforts of
the third parties and there can be no assurance that such third parties will establish adequate sales and distribution capabilities or be
successful in gaining market acceptance of any approved product. If we are not successful in commercializing any product approved
in the future, either on our own or through third parties, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be
materially and adversely affected.
Price controls imposed in foreign markets may adversely affect our future profitability.
In some countries, particularly member states of the European Union, the pricing of prescription drugs is subject to governmental
control. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after receipt of marketing
approval for a product. In addition, there can be considerable pressure by governments and other stakeholders on prices and
reimbursement levels, including as part of cost containment measures. Political, economic and regulatory developments may further
complicate pricing negotiations, and pricing negotiations may continue after reimbursement has been obtained. Reference pricing used
by various European Union member states and parallel distribution, or arbitrage between low-priced and high-priced member states,
can further reduce prices. In some countries, we or future collaborators may be required to conduct a clinical trial or other studies that
compare the cost-effectiveness of our PROBODY therapeutic candidates to other available therapies in order to obtain or maintain
reimbursement or pricing approval. Publication of discounts by third-party payors or authorities may lead to further pressure on the
prices or reimbursement levels within the country of publication and other countries. If reimbursement of any product candidate
approved for marketing is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, or if pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels, our business, financial
condition, results of operations or prospects could be materially and adversely affected. We currently do not know how the exit of the
United Kingdom from the European Union will affect the pricing of prescription drugs, either in the United Kingdom or in the
remaining European Union member states.
Our business entails a significant risk of product liability and our ability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage could have a
material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We are exposed to significant product liability risks inherent in the development, testing, manufacturing and marketing of therapeutic
treatments, including as a result of the clinical testing of praluzatamab ravtansine (CX-2009), CX-2029, BMS-986249, BMS-986288,
pacmilimab (CX-072) and CX-904 and any of our other product candidates or those of our collaborators. Product liability claims
could delay or prevent completion of our development programs. If we succeed in marketing product candidates, such claims could
result in an FDA investigation of the safety and effectiveness of our product candidates, our manufacturing processes and facilities (or
the manufacturing processes and facilities of our third-party manufacturers) or our marketing programs and potentially a recall of our
products or more serious enforcement action, limitations on the approved indications for which they may be used or suspension or
withdrawal of approvals. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may also result in decreased demand for our
products, injury to our reputation, costs to defend the related litigation, a diversion of management’s time and our resources,
substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients and a decline in our stock price. We currently have insurance that we
believe is appropriate for our stage of development and may need to obtain higher levels of insurance prior to marketing any of our
product candidates. Any insurance we have or may obtain may not provide sufficient coverage against potential liabilities.
Furthermore, clinical trial and product liability insurance is becoming increasingly expensive. As a result, we may be unable to obtain
sufficient insurance at a reasonable cost to protect us against losses caused by product liability claims that could have a material and
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our employees and independent contractors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with
regulatory standards and requirements.
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We are exposed to the risk of fraud or other misconduct by our employees or independent contractors. Misconduct by these parties
could include intentional failures to comply with FDA regulations, provide accurate information to the FDA, comply with
manufacturing standards we may establish, comply with federal and state data privacy, security, fraud and abuse, and other healthcare
laws and regulations, report financial information or data accurately or disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales,
marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent
fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing,
discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Activities
subject to these laws could also involve the improper use or misrepresentation of information obtained in the course of clinical trials,
which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter
misconduct by employees and other 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 or regulations. Additionally, we are subject to the risk that a person or
government could allege such fraud or other misconduct, even if none occurred. 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 material and adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, including the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions.
Our current operations are concentrated in one location, and we or the third parties upon whom we depend may be adversely
affected by earthquakes or other natural disasters and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately
protect us from a serious disaster.
Our current operations are located in our facilities in South San Francisco, California. Any unplanned event, such as flood, fire,
explosion, earthquake, extreme weather condition, medical epidemics, power shortage, telecommunication failure or other natural or
manmade accidents or incidents that result in us being unable to fully utilize our facilities, or the manufacturing facilities of our third-
party contract manufacturers, may have a material and adverse effect on our ability to operate our business, particularly on a daily
basis, and have significant negative consequences on our financial and operating conditions. Loss of access to these facilities may
result in increased costs, delays in the development of our product candidates or interruption of our business operations. Earthquakes
or other natural disasters could further disrupt our operations and have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations and prospects. If a natural disaster, power outage or other event occurred that prevented us from using
all or a significant portion of our headquarters, that damaged critical infrastructure, such as our research facilities or the manufacturing
facilities of our third-party contract manufacturers, or that otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases,
impossible, for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time. For example, in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic
caused us to restrict access to our facility and initiate a work-from-home program limiting onsite activity to a substantially reduced
level of laboratory research activities. Although we gradually increased our laboratory research activities to normal levels, and
adopted a hybrid work from home model, there can be no assurance that a future pandemic or other event will not impact our ability to
conduct business.
The disaster recovery and business continuity plans we have in place may prove inadequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar
event. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited nature of our disaster recovery and business continuity plans,
which could have a material and adverse effect on our business. As part of our risk management policy, we maintain insurance
coverage at levels that we believe are appropriate for our business. However, in the event of an accident or incident at these facilities,
we cannot assure you that the amounts of insurance will be sufficient to satisfy any damages and losses. If our facilities, or the
manufacturing facilities of our third-party contract manufacturers, are unable to operate because of an accident or incident or for any
other reason, even for a short period of time, any or all of our research and development programs may be harmed. Any business
interruption may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our reported financial results may be adversely affected by changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. These accounting
principles are subject to interpretation by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the SEC. A change in these
policies or interpretations could have a significant effect on our reported financial results, may retroactively affect previously reported
results, could cause unexpected financial reporting fluctuations, and may require us to make costly changes to our operational
processes and accounting systems. Additionally, for the purpose of revenue recognition, we are required to estimate the amount of
effort to complete, as measured by full-time equivalent hours of our research development programs. Such estimates are inherently
uncertain and may result in changes in subsequent periods.
Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), if a corporation undergoes an “ownership
change” (generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage points change (by value) in the ownership of its equity over a rolling three-
year period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and certain other pre-change tax attributes
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to offset its post-change income and taxes may be limited. California has similar rules. For example, we performed an IRC Section
382 analysis in 2017 and determined there was an ownership change that resulted in Section 382 limitations. The ownership change
limited our ability to utilize net operating losses against taxable income in 2018 for both federal and California tax purposes. The
remaining net operating losses and credit will be available in future years before expiration during their respective carryforward
periods. We may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of shifts in our stock ownership, some of which are outside
our control, and our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards could be limited by an “ownership change” as described above,
which could result in additional increased tax liability to the Company.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
If we are not able to obtain and enforce patent protection for our technologies or product candidates, development and
commercialization of our product candidates may be adversely affected.
Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain and maintain patents and other forms of intellectual property rights, including in-
licenses of intellectual property rights of others, for our product candidates, methods used to manufacture our product candidates and
methods for treating patients using our product candidates, as well as our ability to preserve our trade secrets, to prevent third parties
from infringing upon our proprietary rights and to operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others. We have a
substantial number of issued patents and pending patent applications, some of which are co-owned with a third party, covering our
PROBODY platforms and products as well as methods of use and production thereof; we have exclusively licensed UCSB’s interest
in the patent family co-owned with UCSB that covers PROBODY and other pro-protein technology in the fields of therapeutics, in
vivo diagnostics and prophylactics. In addition, we have exclusively licensed a patent portfolio of three patent families from UCSB
that includes patents and patent applications that cover compositions and methods related to the screening for and identification of the
masks and protease-cleavable linkers that we incorporate into our PROBODY candidates. We may not be able to apply for patents on
certain aspects of our product candidates in a timely fashion or at all. Our existing issued and granted patents and any future patents
we obtain may not be sufficiently broad to prevent others from using our technology or from developing competing products and
technology. There is no guarantee that any of our pending patent applications will result in issued or granted patents, that any of our
issued or granted patents will not later be found to be invalid or unenforceable or that any issued or granted patents will include claims
that are sufficiently broad to cover our product candidates or to provide meaningful protection from our competitors. Moreover, the
patent position of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies can be highly uncertain because it involves complex legal and
factual questions. We will be able to protect our proprietary rights from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that our
current and future proprietary technology and product candidates are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively
maintained as trade secrets. If third parties disclose or misappropriate our proprietary rights, it may materially and adversely affect our
position in the market.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a
number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other provisions during the patent process. There are situations in which
noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent
rights in the relevant jurisdiction. In such an event, competitors might be able to enter the market earlier than would otherwise have
been the case. The standards applied by the USPTO and foreign patent offices in granting patents are not always applied uniformly or
predictably. For example, there is no uniform worldwide policy regarding patentable subject matter or the scope of claims allowable in
biotechnology and biopharmaceutical patents. As such, we do not know the degree of future protection that we will have on our
proprietary products and technology. While we will endeavor to try to protect our product candidates with intellectual property rights
such as patents, as appropriate, the process of obtaining patents is time-consuming, expensive and sometimes unpredictable.
In addition, there are numerous recent changes to the patent laws and proposed changes to the rules of the USPTO that may have a
significant impact on our ability to protect our technology and enforce our intellectual property rights. For example, the America
Invents Act (“AIA”) enacted within the last several years involves significant changes in patent legislation. The Supreme Court has
ruled on several patent cases in recent years, some of which cases either narrow the scope of patent protection available in certain
circumstances or weaken the rights of patent owners in certain situations. The recent decision by the Supreme Court in Association for
Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc. precludes a claim to a nucleic acid having a stated nucleotide sequence that is identical
to a sequence found in nature and has not been modified. We currently are not aware of an immediate impact of this decision on our
patents or patent applications because we are developing product candidates that contain modifications, such as our PROBODY
substrates and masks, that we believe are not found in nature. However, this decision has yet to be clearly interpreted by courts and by
the USPTO. We cannot assure you that the interpretations of this decision or subsequent rulings will not adversely impact our patents
or patent applications. In addition to increasing uncertainty with regard to our ability to obtain patents in the future, this combination
of events has created uncertainty with respect to the value of patents, once obtained. Depending on decisions by the U.S. Congress, the
federal courts and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our
ability to obtain new patents or to enforce our existing patents and patents that we might obtain in the future.
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Once granted, patents may remain open to opposition, interference, re-examination, post-grant review, inter partes review,
nullification or derivation action in court or before patent offices or similar proceedings for a given period after allowance or grant,
during which time third parties can raise objections against such initial grant. In the course of such proceedings, which may continue
for a protracted period of time, the patent owner may be compelled to limit the scope of the allowed or granted claims thus attacked, or
may lose the allowed or granted claims altogether. In addition, there can be no assurance that:
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Others will not or may not be able to make, use or sell compounds that are the same as or similar to our product
candidates but that are not covered by the claims of the patents that we own or license.
We or our licensors, or our collaborators are the first to make the inventions covered by each of our issued patents and
pending patent applications that we own or license.
We or our licensors, or our collaborators are the first to file patent applications covering certain aspects of our inventions.
Others will not independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies without
infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating our intellectual property rights.
A third party may not challenge our patents and, if challenged, a court would hold that our patents are valid, enforceable
and infringed.
Any issued patents that we own or have licensed will provide us with any competitive advantages, or will not be
challenged by third parties.
We may develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable.
The patents of others will not have a material or adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations
and prospects.
Our competitors do not conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have enforceable patent
rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major
commercial markets.
Other companies or organizations may challenge our or our licensors’ patent rights or may assert patent rights that prevent us
from developing and commercializing our products.
PROBODY therapeutics are a relatively new scientific field. We have obtained grants and issuances of PROBODY therapeutic patents
and have licensed one patent family comprising several of these patents from a third party on an exclusive basis for therapeutics
applications. The issued patents and pending patent applications in the United States and in key markets around the world that we own
or license claim many different methods, compositions and processes relating to the discovery, development, manufacture and
commercialization of antibody and immunoregulatory therapeutics. Specifically, we own and have licensed a portfolio of patents,
patent applications and other intellectual property covering PROBODY compositions of matter as well as their methods of
manufacturing and use.
As the field of antibody and immunoregulatory therapeutics matures, patent applications are being processed by national patent offices
around the world. There is uncertainty about which patents will issue, and, if they do, as to when, to whom, and with what claims. In
addition, third parties may attempt to invalidate our intellectual property rights.
Even if our rights are not directly challenged, disputes could lead to the weakening of our intellectual property rights. Our defense
against any attempt by third parties to circumvent or invalidate our intellectual property rights could be costly to us, could require
significant time and attention of our management and could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects or our ability to successfully compete.
There are many issued and pending patents that claim aspects of our product candidates and modifications that we may need to apply
to our product candidates. There are also many issued patents that claim antibodies or portions of antibodies that may be relevant for
PROBODY products we wish to develop. Thus, it is possible that one or more organizations will hold patent rights to which we will
need a license. If those organizations refuse to grant us a license to such patent rights on reasonable terms, we may not be able to
market products or perform research and development or other activities covered by these patents.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
Obtaining a valid and enforceable issued or granted patent covering our technology in the U.S. and worldwide can be extremely
costly. In jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection, competitors may use our technology to develop their own
products and further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but where it is more
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difficult to enforce a patent as compared to the U.S. Competitor products may compete with our future products in jurisdictions where
we do not have issued or granted patents or where our issued or granted patent claims or other intellectual property rights are not
sufficient to prevent competitor activities in these jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing
countries, make it difficult to enforce patents and such countries may not recognize other types of intellectual property protection,
particularly that relating to biopharmaceuticals. This could make it difficult for us to prevent the infringement of our patents or
marketing of competing products in violation of our proprietary rights generally in certain jurisdictions. Proceedings to enforce our
patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our
business.
For example, in March 2022, Russia adopted a decree allowing local companies and individuals to use inventions from certain
countries designated as “unfriendly”, including the U.S. Further, under current U.S. currency restrictions on payments to entities in
Russia, we may be unable in the future to pay for the prosecution of patent applications or the maintenance of existing patents in
Russia. As a result of these actions, we may not be able to protect our technology from unlicensed use in Russia.
We generally file a provisional patent application first (a priority filing) at the USPTO. An international application under the Patent
Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) is usually filed within twelve months after the priority filing. Based on the PCT filing, national and
regional patent applications may be filed in the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada and, depending on the individual
case, also in any or all of, inter alia, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia or
Eurasian Patent Organization, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea and other jurisdictions. We have so far not filed for patent
protection in all national and regional jurisdictions where such protection may be available. In addition, we may decide to abandon
national and regional patent applications before grant. Finally, the grant proceeding of each national or regional patent is an
independent proceeding which may lead to situations in which applications might in some jurisdictions be refused by the relevant
registration authorities, while granted by others. It is also quite common that depending on the country, various scopes of patent
protection may be granted on the same product candidate or technology.
The laws of some jurisdictions do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws in the U.S., and many
companies have encountered significant difficulties in protecting and defending such rights in such jurisdictions. If we or our licensors
encounter difficulties in protecting, or are otherwise precluded from effectively protecting, the intellectual property rights important
for our business in such jurisdictions, the value of these rights may be diminished and we may face additional competition from others
in those jurisdictions. 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 patent. If we or any
of our licensors are forced to grant a license to third parties with respect to any patents relevant to our business, our competitive
position in the relevant jurisdiction may be impaired and our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.
We or our licensors, or any future strategic partners may become subject to third party claims or litigation alleging infringement of
patents or other proprietary rights or seeking to invalidate patents or other proprietary rights, and we may need to resort to
litigation to protect or enforce our patents or other proprietary rights, all of which could be costly, time consuming, delay or
prevent the development and commercialization of our product candidates, or put our patents and other proprietary rights at risk.
We or our licensors, or any future strategic partners may be subject to third-party claims for infringement or misappropriation of
patent or other proprietary rights. We are generally obligated under our license or collaboration agreements to indemnify and hold
harmless our licensors or collaborators for damages arising from intellectual property infringement by us. For example, in March
2020, Vytacera Bio, LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Delaware. The lawsuit alleges that the Company’s use, offers to sell, and/or sales of the PROBODY technology platform for basic
research applications constitutes infringement. The complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages. While the magistrate judge
recommended to the judge in October 2023 that our motion to dismiss be approved, the judge for the litigation will have to make a
ruling on the motion. The Company believes that the lawsuit is without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself. However, there
can be no assurance that a court might not rule against us in these proceedings. Even if we are successful in defending against such
claim, this litigation could divert management’s attention, as well as our resources, from our business and any claims paid out of our
cash reserves would harm our financial condition and operating results.
If we or our licensors, or any future strategic partners are found to infringe a third-party patent or other intellectual property rights, we
could be required to pay damages, potentially including treble damages, if we are found to have willfully infringed. In addition, we or
our licensors, or any future strategic partners may choose to seek, or be required to seek, a license from a third party, which may not
be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Even if a license can be obtained on acceptable terms, the rights may be non-exclusive,
which could give our competitors access to the same technology or intellectual property rights licensed to us. If we fail to obtain a
required license, we or our collaborators may be unable to effectively market product candidates based on our technology, which
could limit our ability to generate revenue or achieve profitability and possibly prevent us from generating revenue sufficient to
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sustain our operations. In addition, we may find it necessary to pursue claims or initiate lawsuits to protect or enforce our patent or
other intellectual property rights. The cost to us in defending or initiating any litigation or other proceeding relating to patent or other
proprietary rights, even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial, and litigation would divert our management’s attention. Some of
our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation more effectively than we can because they have
substantially greater resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings
could delay our research and development efforts and limit our ability to continue our operations.
If we were to initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering one of our products or our technology, the
defendant could counterclaim that our patent is invalid or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the U.S., 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, for example, lack of novelty, obviousness or non-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. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and
unenforceability during patent litigation is unpredictable. With respect to the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that
there is no invalidating prior art, of which we and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a defendant 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 one or
more of our products or certain aspects of our platform technology. Such a loss of patent protection could have a material and adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Patents and other intellectual property rights also will
not protect our technology if competitors design around our protected technology without legally infringing, misappropriating or
otherwise violating our patents or other intellectual property rights.
Intellectual property rights of third parties could adversely affect our ability to commercialize our product candidates, and we
might be required to litigate or obtain licenses from third parties in order to develop or market our product candidates. Such
litigation or licenses could be costly or not available on commercially reasonable terms.
Because the antibody landscape is still evolving, including the masked antibody landscape, it is difficult to conclusively assess our
freedom to operate without infringing on third-party rights. There are numerous companies that have pending patent applications and
issued patents broadly covering antibodies generally or covering antibodies directed against the same targets as, or targets similar to,
those we are pursuing. An increasing number of third parties are filing masked antibody patent applications, several of which contain
claims that are patterned after our own patent claims. Our competitive position may suffer if patents issued to third parties or other
third-party intellectual property rights cover our products or product candidates or elements thereof, or our manufacture or uses
relevant to our development plans. In such cases, we may not be in a position to develop or commercialize products or product
candidates unless we successfully pursue litigation to nullify or invalidate the third-party intellectual property right concerned, or enter
into a license agreement with the intellectual property right holder, if available on commercially reasonable terms. There may be
issued patents of which we are not aware, held by third parties that, if found to be valid and enforceable, could be alleged to be
infringed by our PROBODY therapeutic technologies. There also may be pending patent applications of which we are not aware that
may result in issued patents, which could be alleged to be infringed by our PROBODY therapeutic technologies. If such an
infringement claim should be brought and be successful, we may be required to pay substantial damages, be forced to abandon our
product candidates or seek a license from any patent holders. No assurances can be given that a license will be available on
commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
It is also possible that we have failed to identify relevant third-party patents or applications. For example, U.S. applications filed
before November 29, 2000, and certain U.S. applications filed after that date that will not be filed outside the U.S. remain confidential
until patents issue. Patent applications in the U.S. and elsewhere are published approximately 18 months after the earliest filing for
which priority is claimed, with such earliest filing date being commonly referred to as the priority date. Therefore, patent applications
covering our products or platform technology could have been filed by others without our knowledge. Additionally, pending patent
applications that have been published can, subject to certain limitations, be later amended in a manner that could cover our platform
technologies, our products or the use of our products. Third-party intellectual property right holders may also actively bring
infringement claims against us. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to successfully settle or otherwise resolve such infringement
claims. If we are unable to successfully settle future claims on terms acceptable to us, we may be required to engage in or continue
costly, unpredictable and time-consuming litigation and may be prevented from or experience substantial delays in marketing our
products. If we fail in any such dispute, in addition to being forced to pay damages, we may be temporarily or permanently prohibited
from commercializing any of our product candidates that are held to be infringing. We might, if possible, also be forced to redesign
product candidates so that we no longer infringe the third-party intellectual property rights. Any of these events, even if we were
ultimately to prevail, could require us to divert substantial financial and management resources that we would otherwise be able to
devote to our business.
Intellectual property litigation could cause us to spend substantial resources and distract our personnel from their normal
responsibilities.
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Litigation, including the ongoing patent infringement lawsuit brought by Vytacera Bio, LLC (“Vytacera”) against us, or other legal
proceedings relating to intellectual property claims, with or without merit, is unpredictable and generally expensive and time
consuming and is likely to divert significant resources from our core business, including distracting our technical and management
personnel from their normal responsibilities. 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. 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 adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. 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 property portfolios. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may not be able to
prevent third parties from infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating or from successfully challenging our intellectual
property rights. For example, although we believe the Vytacera lawsuit is without merit and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves,
we cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent
litigation or other proceedings could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace.
If we fail to comply with our obligations under any license, collaboration or other agreements, we may be required to pay damages
and could lose our rights to intellectual property rights that are necessary for developing and protecting our product candidates or
we could lose certain rights to grant sublicenses.
Our licenses from Amgen, ImmunoGen and UCSB impose, and any future licenses we enter into are likely to impose, various
development, commercialization, funding, diligence, sublicensing, insurance, patent prosecution and enforcement and/or other
obligations on us, including various payment obligations such as milestone and royalty payments and payments based on sublicensing
revenues. Our rights under our agreements with our licensors or collaborators may be limited or modified according to their terms.
Additionally, if we breach any of these obligations, or use the intellectual property licensed to us in an unauthorized manner, we may
be required to pay damages and the licensor may have the right to terminate the license, which could result in us being unable to
develop, manufacture and sell products that are covered by the licensed technology or enable a competitor to gain access to the
licensed technology. Moreover, our licensors and collaborators may own or control intellectual property that has not been licensed to
us and, as a result, we may be subject to claims, regardless of their merit, that we are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise
violating the licensor’s rights. In addition, while we cannot currently determine the amount of the royalty or sublicense revenue
payment obligations we would be required to pay on development or sales of future products, if any, the amounts may be significant.
The amount of our future royalty or sublicense revenue payment obligations will depend on the technology and intellectual property
we use in products that we successfully develop and commercialize, if any. Therefore, even if we successfully develop and
commercialize products, we may be unable to achieve or maintain profitability.
Our intellectual property agreements with our licensors, collaborators and third parties may be subject to disagreements over
contract interpretation, which could narrow the scope of, or result in termination of, our rights to the relevant intellectual property
or technology or increase our financial or other obligations to such third parties.
Certain provisions in our intellectual property agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. For example, we may
disagree with our licensors or collaborators regarding whether, when and to what extent various obligations under these agreements
apply to certain of our product candidates and products, including various payment, development, commercialization, funding,
diligence, sublicensing, insurance, patent prosecution and enforcement and/or other obligations. The resolution of any contract
interpretation disagreement that may arise could affect the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or
affect financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement. In either case, such disagreement could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
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. Our assignment
agreements may not be self-executing or may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend
claims they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, our business and competitive position would be harmed.
In addition to seeking patent protection for certain aspects of our product candidates, we also consider trade secrets, including
confidential and unpatented know-how, important to the maintenance of our competitive position. We protect trade secrets and
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confidential and unpatented know-how, in part, by entering into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with parties who have
access to such knowledge, such as our employees, corporate collaborators, outside scientific collaborators, CROs, contract
manufacturers, consultants, advisors and other third parties. We also enter into confidentiality and invention or patent assignment
agreements with our employees and consultants that obligate them to maintain confidentiality and assign their inventions to us.
Despite these 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. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or
misappropriated a trade secret is difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, some courts
in the U.S. and certain foreign jurisdictions 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, 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, our
competitive position would be harmed.
We may be subject to claims that we or our employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged trade secrets of our
employees’ or consultants’ former employers or their clients. These claims may be costly to defend and if we do not successfully do
so, we may be required to pay monetary damages and may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel.
Many of our employees were previously employed at universities or biotechnology or biopharmaceutical companies, including our
competitors or potential competitors. Although no claims against us are currently pending, we may be subject to claims that these
employees or we have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former
employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending such claims, in addition to paying
monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. A loss of key research personnel or their work
product could hamper our ability to commercialize, or prevent us from commercializing, our product candidates, which could severely
harm our business. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a
distraction to management.
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 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 or may be forced to stop using these names,
which we need for name recognition by potential partners or customers in our markets of interest. If we are unable to establish name
recognition based on our trademarks and trade names, we may not be able to compete effectively and our business may be adversely
affected.
Risks Related to Government Regulation
We may be unable to obtain or be delayed in obtaining U.S. or foreign regulatory approval and, as a result, be unable or delayed in
being able to commercialize our product candidates.
Our product candidates that we are currently developing are regulated as therapeutic biologics that are subject to requirements for
review and approval of a BLA by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (“CDER”). Therefore, our product candidates
are subject to extensive governmental regulations relating to, among other things, research, testing, development, manufacturing,
safety, efficacy, approval, recordkeeping, reporting, labeling, storage, packaging, advertising and promotion, pricing, marketing and
distribution of drugs and therapeutic biologics. Rigorous preclinical testing and clinical trials and an extensive regulatory approval
process are required to be successfully completed in the U.S. and in many foreign jurisdictions before a new drug or therapeutic
biologic can be marketed. Satisfaction of these and other regulatory requirements is costly, time consuming, uncertain and subject to
unanticipated delays. For example, recently the FDA launched Project Optimus, an initiative to reform the dose optimization and dose
selection paradigm in oncology drug development. While the effort is intended to help drive better ultimate outcomes in the
development of oncology drugs, these efforts could also lead to longer and more expensive early development efforts for companies,
including us, before we are able to initiate registrational studies for our product candidates. It is possible that none of the product
candidates we may develop will obtain the regulatory approvals necessary for us or our existing or future collaborators to begin selling
them.
The FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities can delay, limit or deny approval of a product candidate for many reasons,
including:
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such authorities may disagree with the design or execution of our clinical trials;
negative or ambiguous results from our clinical trials or results may not meet the level of significance or persuasiveness
required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory agencies for approval;
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serious and unexpected drug-related side effects may be experienced by participants in our clinical trials or by individuals
using drugs similar to our product candidates;
the population studied in the clinical trial may not be sufficiently broad or representative to assure safety in the full
population for which we seek approval;
such authorities may not accept clinical data from trials that are conducted at clinical facilities or in countries where the
standard of care is potentially different from that of their own country;
we may be unable to demonstrate that a product candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks;
such authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from preclinical studies or clinical trials;
such authorities may not agree that the data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates are acceptable or
sufficient to support the submission of a BLA or other submission or to obtain regulatory approval in the U.S. or
elsewhere, and such authorities may impose requirements for additional preclinical studies or clinical trials;
such authorities may disagree with us regarding the formulation, labeling and/or the product specifications of our product
candidates;
approval may be granted only for indications that are significantly more limited than those sought by us, and/or may
include significant restrictions on distribution and use;
such authorities may find deficiencies in the manufacturing processes or facilities of the third-party manufacturers with
which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies; or
such authorities may not accept a submission due to, among other reasons, the content or formatting of the submission.
As a company, we have limited experience in conducting and managing the clinical trials necessary to obtain regulatory approvals,
including approval by the FDA. The time required to obtain FDA and other approvals is unpredictable but typically takes many years
following the commencement of clinical trials, depending upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidate. The
standards that the FDA and its foreign counterparts use when regulating us require judgment and can change, which makes it difficult
to predict with certainty how they will be applied. Any analysis we perform of data from preclinical and clinical activities is subject to
confirmation and interpretation by regulatory authorities, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. We may also
encounter unexpected delays or increased costs due to new government regulations, for example, from future legislation or
administrative action, or from changes in FDA policy during the period of product development, clinical trials and FDA regulatory
review. Further, government shutdowns, such as the partial U.S. federal government shutdown that occurred in late 2018 or the United
Kingdom’s departure from the European Union may impact our ability to access government agencies in a timely manner or otherwise
impact our ability to move our product candidates through the regulatory process. It is impossible to predict whether legislative
changes will be enacted, or whether FDA or foreign regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of
such changes, if any, may be.
Any delay or failure in obtaining required approvals could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to generate revenues from
the particular product candidate for which we are seeking approval. Furthermore, any regulatory approval to market a product may be
subject to limitations on the approved uses for which we may market the product or the labeling or other restrictions. In addition, the
FDA has the authority to require a REMS as part of a BLA or after approval, which may impose further requirements or restrictions
on the distribution or use of an approved drug or biologic, such as limiting prescribing to certain physicians or medical centers that
have undergone specialized training, limiting treatment to patients who meet certain safe-use criteria and requiring treated patients to
enroll in a registry. These limitations and restrictions may limit the size of the market for the product and affect reimbursement by
third-party payors.
We are also subject to numerous foreign regulatory requirements governing, among other things, the conduct of clinical trials,
manufacturing and marketing authorization, pricing and third-party reimbursement. The foreign regulatory approval process varies
among countries and may include all of the risks associated with FDA approval described above as well as risks attributable to the
satisfaction of local regulations in foreign jurisdictions. Moreover, the time required to obtain approval may differ from that required
to obtain FDA approval. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities outside the U.S. and vice versa.
Even if we receive regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and
continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense. Additionally, our product candidates, if approved,
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could be subject to labeling and other restrictions and market withdrawal and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply
with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with our products.
Any regulatory approvals that we or our collaborators obtain for our product candidates may also be subject to limitations on the
approved indicated uses for which a product may be marketed or to the conditions of approval, or contain requirements for potentially
costly post-marketing testing, including “Phase 4” clinical trials, and surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the product
candidate. In addition, if the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority approves any of our product candidates, the
manufacturing processes, labeling, packaging, distribution, adverse event reporting, storage, import, export, advertising, promotion
and recordkeeping for the product will be subject to extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements. These requirements include
submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration, as well as continued compliance with cGMPs
and GCPs for any clinical trials that we conduct post-approval. In addition, manufacturers of drug products and their facilities are
subject to continual review and periodic, unannounced inspections by the FDA and other regulatory authorities for compliance with
cGMPs and other applicable regulations and standards. In addition, any regulatory approvals we may receive will require the
submission of periodic reports to regulatory authorities and ongoing surveillance to monitor the safety and efficacy of the product.
Such approvals may also contain significant limitations related to use restrictions for specified age groups, warnings, precautions or
contraindications, and may include burdensome post-approval study or risk management requirements. For example, the FDA may
require a REMS as a condition of approval of our product candidates, which could include requirements for a medication guide,
physician training and communication plans or additional elements to ensure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient
registries and other risk minimization tools.
Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or
with our third-party manufacturers or manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in,
among other things:
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restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, withdrawal of the product from the market or voluntary or
mandatory product recalls;
restrictions on product distribution or use, or requirements to conduct post-marketing studies or clinical trials
fines, restitutions, disgorgement of profits or revenues, warning letters or holds on clinical trials;
refusal by the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us or our strategic
partners;
suspension or revocation of product approvals;
product seizure or detention or refusal to permit the import or export of products; and
injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
The FDA’s policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory
approval of our product candidates If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new
requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may
have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability, which would adversely affect our business.
We also cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or
administrative or executive action, either in the United States or abroad. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing
requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may be
subject to enforcement action, and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.
Our product candidates for which we intend to seek approval as biologic products may face competition sooner than anticipated.
The Affordable Care Act includes a subtitle called the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (“BPCIA”), which
created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed
reference biological product. Under the BPCIA, an application for a highly similar or “biosimilar” product may not be submitted to the
FDA until four years following the date that the reference product was first approved by the FDA. In addition, the approval of a
biosimilar product may not be made effective by the FDA until 12 years from the date on which the reference product was first
approved. During this 12-year period of exclusivity, another company may still market a competing version of the reference product if
the FDA approves a full BLA for the competing product containing the sponsor’s own preclinical data and data from adequate and
well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency of their product.
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We believe that any of our product candidates approved as a biological 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 for competing products, potentially creating the opportunity for
competition sooner than anticipated. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar, once approved, will be substituted for any one of our
reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for non-biological products is not yet clear, and will
depend on a number of marketplace factors that are still developing.
Disruptions at the FDA and other government agencies caused by funding shortages or global health concerns could hinder their
ability to hire, retain or deploy key leadership and other personnel, or otherwise prevent new or modified products from being
developed, approved or commercialized in a timely manner or at all, 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, statutory, regulatory, and policy changes, the FDA’s ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of
user fees, and other events that may otherwise affect the FDA’s ability to perform routine functions. Average review times at the FDA
have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies that fund research and
development activities is inherently fluid and unpredictable. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time
necessary for therapeutic biologics or modifications to approved therapeutic biologics to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary
government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has
shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough FDA employees and stop critical
activities.
Separately, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA postponed most inspections of domestic and foreign manufacturing
facilities at various points. Even though the FDA has since resumed standard inspection operations, any resurgence of the COVID-19
pandemic or emergence of other pandemics may lead to inspectional or administrative delays. If a prolonged government shutdown
occurs, or if global health concerns prevent the FDA or other regulatory authorities from conducting their regular inspections, reviews
or other regulatory activities, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA or other regulatory authorities to timely review and
process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Healthcare legislative reform measures may have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
In the United States, there have been and continue to be a number of legislative initiatives to contain healthcare costs, and government
regulation. In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act (together, the “ACA”), was passed, which substantially changed the way healthcare is financed by both
governmental and private insurers, and significantly impacts the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. The ACA, among other things,
subjected therapeutic biologics 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 and therapeutic biologics that are inhaled,
infused, instilled, implanted or injected, increased the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug
Rebate Program and extended the rebate program to individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, established annual
fees and taxes on manufacturers of certain branded prescription drugs and therapeutic biologics, and created a new Medicare Part D
coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts, which, through subsequent
legislative amendments, was increased to 70% starting in 2019, off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs and therapeutic
biologics to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs and
therapeutic biologics to be covered under Medicare Part D.
Since its enactment, there have been judicial, executive and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA. On June 17,
2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed the most recent judicial challenge to the ACA brought by several states without specifically
ruling on the constitutionality of the ACA. Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, President Biden issued an executive order initiating
a special enrollment period from February 15, 2021 through August 15, 2021 for purposes of obtaining health insurance coverage
through the ACA marketplace. The executive order also instructed certain governmental agencies to review and reconsider their
existing policies and rules that limit access to healthcare. It is unclear how healthcare reform measures enacted by Congress or
implemented by the Biden administration, if any, will impact our business.
In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the ACA was enacted to reduce
healthcare expenditures. The Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, included aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to
providers. These reductions went into effect on April 1, 2013, and due to subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, will remain
in effect through 2032, with the exception of a temporary suspension from May 2, 2020 through March 31, 2022, unless additional
Congressional action is taken. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law, which among
other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several types of providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer
treatment centers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three
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to five years. If federal spending is further reduced, anticipated budgetary shortfalls may also impact the ability of relevant agencies,
such as the FDA or the National Institutes of Health to continue to function at current levels. Amounts allocated to federal grants and
contracts may be reduced or eliminated. These reductions may also impact the ability of relevant agencies to timely review and
approve research and development, manufacturing, and marketing activities, which may delay our ability to develop, market and sell
any products we may develop.
Moreover, payment methodologies, including payment for companion diagnostics, may be subject to changes in healthcare legislation
and regulatory initiatives. For example, in March 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) finalized a national
coverage determination extending coverage under the Medicare program for certain diagnostic laboratory tests using next generation
sequencing (“NGS”) that are approved by the FDA as a companion in vitro diagnostic and used in a cancer with an FDA-approved
companion diagnostic indication. Under the national coverage determination, diagnostic tests that meet these criteria are covered only
in patients with recurrent, metastatic, relapsed, refractory or stages III or IV cancer if the test has an FDA-approved or cleared
indication for use in that patient’s cancer and results are provided to the treating physician for management of the patient using a
report template to specify treatment options. Although the Medicare program increasingly is used as a model for how private payors
and other governmental payors develop their coverage and reimbursement policies, it is difficult to predict at this time what third-party
payors will decide with respect to the coverage and reimbursement for any companion diagnostics associated with our product
candidates.
In addition, recently there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their
marketed products, which has resulted in several Congressional inquiries and proposed bills designed to, among other things, bring
more transparency to product pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, and reform
government program reimbursement methodologies for drug products. In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was
signed into law, which eliminates the statutory Medicaid drug rebate cap, currently set at 100% of a drug’s average manufacturer
price, beginning January 1, 2024. In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, or IRA, was signed into law by President
Biden. Among other things, the IRA requires manufacturers of certain drugs to engage in price negotiations with Medicare (beginning
in 2026), imposes rebates under Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D to penalize price increases that outpace inflation (first due in
2023), and replaces the Part D coverage gap discount program with a new discounting program (beginning in 2025). The IRA permits
the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement many of these provisions through guidance, as
opposed to regulation, for the initial years. For that and other reasons, it is currently unclear how the IRA will be effectuated. These
laws and future laws may negatively impact the ability of biotechnology companies, including us, to raise funds from investors for or
to obtain collaboration partners who assist us in the funding of research and development of future medicines. Individual states in the
United States have also become increasingly active in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control
pharmaceutical 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. In addition, regional healthcare authorities and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to
determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription drug and other healthcare
programs. We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could
limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced
demand for our product candidates or companion diagnostics or additional pricing pressures.
If we or our collaborators, manufacturers or service providers fail to comply with healthcare laws and regulations, we or they
could be subject to enforcement actions, which could affect our ability to develop, market and sell our products and may harm our
reputation.
Although we do not currently have any products on the market, if and when we begin commercializing our product candidates, we
will be subject to additional healthcare statutory and regulatory requirements and enforcement by the federal government and the
states and foreign governments in which we conduct our business. Healthcare providers, physicians and third-party payors play a
primary role in the recommendation and prescription of any product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. Our future
arrangements with third-party payors and customers may expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws
and regulations that may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we market, sell and
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distribute our product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval. Restrictions under applicable federal and state healthcare
laws and regulations, include the following:
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the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully
soliciting, offering, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind to induce or reward
either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, or order or recommendation of, any good or service, for which
payment may be made under federal and state healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. 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;
the U.S. federal False Claims Act, which imposes criminal and civil penalties, including through civil whistleblower or
qui tam actions, against individuals or entities for knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal
government, claims for payment that are false or fraudulent, knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a
false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim, or from knowingly making a false statement to avoid,
decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government. In addition, the government may assert that a
claim including items and services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or
fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act;
the U.S. federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), which imposes criminal and
civil liability for, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute a scheme to defraud
any healthcare benefit program, or knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making
any materially false statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services;
similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 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;
the U.S. federal legislation commonly referred to as Physician Payments Sunshine Act, enacted as part of the ACA, and
its implementing regulations, which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies that
are reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to report annually to the CMS
information related to certain payments and other transfers of value to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists,
optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors), certain non-physician practitioners (physician assistants, nurse practitioners,
clinical nurse specialists, anesthesiologist assistants, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse midwives)
and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by the physicians described above and their
immediate family members; and
analogous state laws and regulations, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws that may apply to sales or
marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by non-governmental third-party
payors, including private insurers; and state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the
pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the
federal government in addition to requiring drug and therapeutic biologics manufacturers to report information related to
payments to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures and pricing information.
Ensuring that our future business arrangements with third parties comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations could
involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that our business practices do not comply with
current or future statutes, regulations, agency guidance or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and
regulations. If our operations are found to be in violation of any such requirements, we may be subject to penalties, including civil or
criminal penalties, monetary damages, the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, loss of eligibility to obtain approvals from
the FDA, or exclusion from participation in government contracting, healthcare reimbursement or other government programs,
including Medicare and Medicaid, any of which could adversely our financial results. Although effective compliance programs can
mitigate the risk of investigation and prosecution for violations of these laws, these risks cannot be entirely eliminated. Any action
against us for an alleged or suspected violation could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and could divert our management’s
attention from the operation of our business, even if our defense is successful. In addition, achieving and sustaining compliance with
applicable laws and regulations may be costly to us in terms of money, time and resources.
If we or future collaborators, manufacturers or service providers fail to comply with applicable federal, state or foreign laws or
regulations, we could be subject to enforcement actions, which could affect our ability to develop, market and sell our products
successfully and could harm our reputation and lead to reduced acceptance of our products by the market. These enforcement actions
include, among others:
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adverse regulatory inspection findings;
warning letters;
voluntary or mandatory product recalls or public notification or medical product safety alerts to healthcare professionals;
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restrictions on, or prohibitions against, marketing our products;
restrictions on, or prohibitions against, importation or exportation of our products;
suspension of review or refusal to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications;
exclusion from participation in government-funded healthcare programs;
exclusion from eligibility for the award of government contracts for our products;
suspension or withdrawal of product approvals;
seizures or administrative detention of products;
injunctions; and
civil and criminal penalties and fines.
Actual or perceived failures to comply with applicable data protection, privacy and security laws, regulations, standards and other
requirements could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
The regulatory environment surrounding data privacy and security is increasingly demanding. We are or may in the future be subject
to numerous U.S. federal and state laws and non-U.S. regulations governing the collection, use, disclosure, retention, and security of
personal and confidential information of our clinical subjects, clinical investigators, employees and vendors/business contacts.
Implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, and we cannot yet
determine the impact future laws, regulations, standards, or perception of their requirements may have on our business. This evolution
may create uncertainty in our business, affect our ability to operate in certain jurisdictions or to collect, store, transfer use and share
personal information, necessitate the acceptance of more onerous obligations in our contracts, result in liability or impose additional
costs on us. The cost of compliance with these laws, regulations and standards is high and is likely to increase in the future. Any
failure or perceived failure by us to comply with federal, state or foreign laws or regulations, our internal policies and procedures or
our contracts governing our processing of personal information could result in negative publicity, government investigations and
enforcement actions, claims by third parties and damage to our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, results of operation, and financial condition.
In the United States, HIPAA imposes, among other things, certain standards relating to the privacy, security, transmission and breach
reporting of individually identifiable health information. We may obtain health information from third parties (including research
institutions from which we obtain clinical trial data) that are subject to privacy and security requirements under HIPAA. Depending on
the facts and circumstances, we could be subject to significant penalties if we violate HIPAA. Certain states have also adopted
comparable privacy and security laws and regulations, some of which may be more stringent than HIPAA. Such laws and regulations
will be subject to interpretation by various courts and other governmental authorities, thus creating potentially complex compliance
issues for us and our future customers and strategic partners. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) went into
effect on January 1, 2020. The CCPA creates individual privacy rights for California consumers, including the expanded right to
access and delete their personal information, opt out of certain personal information sharing, and receive detailed information about
how their personal information is used. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for
data breaches, that has increased the likelihood of, and risks associated with data breach litigation. Further, the California Privacy
Rights Act (“CPRA”) generally went into effect on January 1, 2023, and significantly amends the CCPA. The CPRA imposes
additional data protection obligations on covered businesses, including additional consumer rights processes, limitations on data uses,
new audit requirements for higher risk data, and opt outs for certain uses of sensitive data. It also creates a new California data
protection agency authorized to issue substantive regulations and could result in increased privacy and information security
enforcement. Additional compliance investment and potential business process changes may also be required. Similar laws have
passed in other states and are continuing to be proposed at the state and federal level, reflecting a trend toward more stringent privacy
legislation in the United States. The enactment of such laws could have potentially conflicting requirements that would make
compliance challenging. In the event that we are subject to or affected by HIPAA, the CCPA, the CPRA or other domestic privacy and
data protection laws, any liability from failure to comply with the requirements of these laws could adversely affect our financial
condition.
Our operations abroad may also be subject to increased scrutiny or attention from data protection authorities. For example, the General
Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") went into effect in May 2018, and imposes stringent requirements for processing the personal
data of individuals within the EEA. Companies that must comply with the GDPR face increased compliance obligations and risk,
including more robust regulatory enforcement of data protection requirements and potential fines for noncompliance of up to 4% total
worldwide annual turnover or €20 million, whichever is higher. Among other requirements, the GDPR regulates transfers of personal
data subject to the GDPR to third countries that have not been found to provide adequate protection to such personal data, including
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the United States, and the efficacy and longevity of current transfer mechanisms between the EEA, and the United States remains
uncertain. Case law from the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) states that reliance on the standard contractual clauses
- a standard form of contract approved by the European Commission as an adequate personal data transfer mechanism - alone may not
necessarily be sufficient in all circumstances and that transfers must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. On July 10, 2023, the
European Commission adopted its Adequacy Decision in relation to the new EU-US Data Privacy Framework (“DPF”), rendering the
DPF effective as a GDPR transfer mechanism to U.S. entities self-certified under the DPF. We expect the existing legal complexity
and uncertainty regarding international personal data transfers to continue. In particular, we expect the DPF Adequacy Decision to be
challenged and international transfers to the United States and to other jurisdictions more generally to continue to be subject to
enhanced scrutiny by regulators. As a result, we may have to make certain operational changes and we will have to implement revised
standard contractual clauses and other relevant documentation for existing data transfers within required time frames. As supervisory
authorities issue further guidance on personal data export mechanisms, including circumstances where the standard contractual clauses
cannot be used, or start taking enforcement action, we could suffer additional costs, complaints and/or regulatory investigations or
fines, and/or if we are otherwise unable to transfer personal data between and among countries and regions in which we operate, it
could affect the manner in which we provide our products and services, the geographical location or segregation of our relevant
systems and operations, and could adversely affect our financial results.
Further, from January 1, 2021, we have had to comply with the GDPR and also the UK GDPR, which, together with the amended UK
Data Protection Act 2018, retains the GDPR in UK national law. The UK GDPR mirrors the fines under the GDPR, i.e., fines up to the
greater of €20 million (£17.5 million) or 4% of global turnover. On October 12, 2023, the UK Extension to the DPF came into effect
(as approved by the UK Government), as a data transfer mechanism from the UK to U.S. entities self-certified under the DPF. As we
continue to expand into other foreign countries and jurisdictions, we may be subject to additional laws and regulations that may affect
how we conduct business.
Although we work to comply with applicable laws, regulations and standards, our contractual obligations and other legal obligations,
these requirements are evolving and may be modified, interpreted and applied in an inconsistent manner from one jurisdiction to
another, and may conflict with one another or other legal obligations with which we must comply. Any failure or perceived failure by
us or our employees, representatives, contractors, consultants, collaborators, or other third parties to comply with such requirements or
adequately address privacy and security concerns, even if unfounded, could result in significant fines, penalties and damage to our
reputation, and we may be forced to change the way we operate. This could result in additional cost and liability to us, which could
negatively affect our business, results of operation, and financial condition.
Even if we are able to commercialize any product candidate, such product candidate may become subject to unfavorable pricing
regulations or third-party coverage and reimbursement policies, which would harm our business.
The regulations that govern regulatory approvals, pricing and reimbursement for new drugs and therapeutic biologics vary widely
from country to country. Some countries require approval of the sale price of a drug or therapeutic biologic before it can be marketed.
In many countries, the pricing review period begins after marketing approval is granted. In some foreign markets, prescription
biopharmaceutical pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted. As a result, we
might obtain regulatory approval for a product in a particular country, but then be subject to price regulations that delay our
commercial launch of the product, possibly for lengthy time periods and negatively impact the revenues 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 our product candidates obtain regulatory approval.
Our ability to commercialize any products successfully also will depend in part on the extent to which coverage and reimbursement
for these products and related treatments will be available from government authorities, private health insurers and other
organizations. Even if we succeed in bringing one or more products to the market, these products may not be considered cost-
effective, and the amount reimbursed for any products may be insufficient to allow us to sell our products on a competitive basis.
Because our programs are in the early stages of development, we are unable at this time to determine their cost effectiveness or the
likely level or method of reimbursement. Increasingly, the third-party payors who reimburse patients or healthcare providers, such as
government and private insurance plans, are requiring that drug companies provide them with predetermined discounts from list
prices, and are seeking to reduce the prices charged or the amounts reimbursed for biopharmaceutical products. If the price we are able
to charge for any products we develop, or the reimbursement provided for such products, is inadequate in light of our development
and other costs, our return on investment could be adversely affected. There may be significant delays in obtaining reimbursement for
newly-approved drugs or therapeutic biologics, and coverage may be more limited than the purposes for which the drug or therapeutic
biologic is approved by the FDA or similar regulatory authorities outside of the United States. Moreover, eligibility for reimbursement
does not imply that any drug or therapeutic biologic will be reimbursed in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including
research, development, manufacture, sale and distribution. Interim reimbursement levels for new drugs or therapeutic biologics, if
applicable, may also not be sufficient to cover our costs and may not be made permanent. Reimbursement rates may be based on
payments allowed for lower-cost drugs or therapeutic biologics that are already reimbursed, may be incorporated into existing
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payments for other services and may reflect budgetary constraints or imperfections in Medicare data. Net prices for drugs or
therapeutic biologics 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 or therapeutic biologics from countries where they
may be sold at lower prices than in the U.S. Third-party payors often rely upon Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in
setting their own reimbursement rates. Our inability to promptly obtain coverage and adequate reimbursement rates from both
government-funded and private payors for new drugs or therapeutic biologics that we develop and for which we obtain regulatory
approval could have a material and adverse effect on our operating results, our ability to raise capital needed to commercialize
products and our financial condition.
We may seek and fail to obtain fast track or breakthrough therapy designations for our current or future product candidates. If we
are successful, these programs may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review process, and they do not guarantee we
will receive approval for any product candidate.
If a product is intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition and preclinical or clinical data demonstrate the
potential to address an unmet medical need for this condition, the product sponsor may apply for fast track designation. Fast track
designation provides increased opportunities for sponsor meetings with the FDA during preclinical and clinical development, in
addition to the potential for rolling review of a BLA, if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the BLA,
the FDA agrees to accept sections of the BLA and determines that the schedule is acceptable, and the sponsor pays any required user
fees upon submission of the first section of the BLA. The FDA has broad discretion whether or not to grant this designation, so even if
we believe a particular product candidate is eligible for this designation, we cannot assure you that the FDA would decide to grant it.
Even if we do receive fast track designation, we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to
conventional FDA procedures. The FDA may rescind the fast track designation if it believes that the designation is no longer
supported by data from our clinical development program.
We may also seek breakthrough therapy designation for any product candidate that we develop. A breakthrough therapy is defined as
a drug that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition,
and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over currently approved therapies
on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. Like fast
track designation, breakthrough therapy designation is within the discretion of the FDA. Accordingly, even if we believe a product
candidate we develop meets the criteria for designation as a breakthrough therapy, the FDA may disagree and instead determine not to
make such designation. In any event, the receipt of breakthrough therapy designation for a product candidate may not result in a faster
development process, review or approval compared to drugs considered for approval under conventional FDA procedures and does
not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. In addition, even if a product candidate we develop qualifies as a breakthrough therapy, the
FDA may later decide that the drug no longer meets the conditions for qualification and rescind the designation.
We may attempt to secure approval from the FDA through the use of the accelerated approval pathway. If we are unable to obtain
such approval, we may be required to conduct additional preclinical studies or clinical trials beyond those that we contemplate, which
could increase the expense of obtaining, and delay the receipt of, necessary regulatory approvals. Even if we receive accelerated
approval from the FDA, if our confirmatory trials do not verify clinical benefit, or if we do not comply with rigorous post-marketing
requirements, the FDA may seek to withdraw any accelerated approval we have obtained.
We may in the future seek accelerated approval for one or more of our product candidates. Under the accelerated approval program,
the FDA may grant accelerated approval to a product candidate designed to treat a serious or life-threatening condition that provides
meaningful therapeutic benefit over available therapies upon a determination that the product candidate has an effect on a surrogate
endpoint or intermediate clinical endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. The FDA considers a clinical benefit to
be a positive therapeutic effect that is clinically meaningful in the context of a given disease, such as irreversible morbidity or
mortality. For the purposes of accelerated approval, a surrogate endpoint is a marker, such as a laboratory measurement, radiographic
image, physical sign, or other measure that is thought to predict clinical benefit, but is not itself a measure of clinical benefit. An
intermediate clinical endpoint is a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality
that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit.
The accelerated approval pathway may be used in cases in which the advantage of a product candidate over available therapy may not
be a direct therapeutic advantage, but is a clinically important improvement from a patient and public health perspective. If granted,
accelerated approval is usually contingent on the sponsor’s agreement to conduct, in a diligent manner, additional confirmatory studies
to verity and describe the drug’s predicted clinical benefit. If such post-approval studies fail to confirm the drug’s clinical benefit or
are not completed in a timely manner, the FDA may withdraw its approval of the drug on an expedited basis. In addition, in December
2022, President Biden signed an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the U.S. government through fiscal year 2023. Included in the
omnibus bill is the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022, which among other things, provided FDA new statutory authority to
mitigate potential risks to patients from continued marketing of ineffective drugs previously granted accelerated approval. Under these
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provisions, the FDA may require a sponsor of a product seeking accelerated approval to have a confirmatory trial underway prior to
such approval being granted.
Prior to seeking accelerated approval for any of our product candidates, we intend to seek feedback from the FDA and will otherwise
evaluate our ability to seek and receive accelerated approval. There can be no assurance that after our evaluation of the feedback and
other factors we will decide to pursue or submit a BLA for accelerated approval or any other form of expedited development, review
or approval. Furthermore, if we decide to submit an application for accelerated approval for our product candidates, there can be no
assurance that such application will be accepted or that any expedited development, review or approval will be granted on a timely
basis, or at all. The FDA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities could also require us to conduct further studies prior to
considering our application or granting approval of any type. A failure to obtain accelerated approval or any other form of expedited
development, review or approval for our product candidate would result in a longer time period to commercialization of such product
candidate, if any, could increase the cost of development of such product candidate and could harm our competitive position in the
marketplace.
We may seek Orphan Drug Designation for some of our product candidates, and we may be unsuccessful or may be unable to
maintain the benefits associated with Orphan Drug Designation, including the potential for market exclusivity.
As part of our business strategy, we may seek Orphan Drug Designation for our product candidates, and we may be unsuccessful.
Regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions, including the United States and Europe, may designate drugs and therapeutic biologics
for relatively small patient populations as orphan drugs. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a drug or therapeutic
biologic as an orphan drug if it is a drug or therapeutic biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally defined
as a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the
United States where there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing the drug or therapeutic biologic will be recovered
from sales in the United States. In the United States, Orphan Drug Designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as
opportunities for grant funding toward clinical trial costs, tax advantages and user-fee waivers. In addition, if a product that has
Orphan Drug Designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the disease or condition for which it has such designation,
the product is entitled to orphan drug exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a full
BLA, to market the same product for the same disease or condition or seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing
of clinical superiority to the product with orphan drug exclusivity or where the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient product
quantity.
Even if we obtain Orphan Drug Designation for our product candidates in specific indications, we may not be the first to obtain
marketing approval of these product candidates for the orphan-designated disease or condition due to the uncertainties associated with
developing pharmaceutical products. In addition, exclusive marketing rights in the United States may be limited if we seek approval
for an disease or condition broader than the orphan-designated disease or condition or may be lost if the FDA later determines that the
request for designation was materially defective or if the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet
the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition. Further, even if we obtain orphan drug exclusivity for a product, that
exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because different biologics can be approved for the same disease
or condition. Even after an orphan product is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve the same drug or therapeutic biologic for
the same disease or condition if the FDA concludes that the later drug or therapeutic biologic is safer, more effective or makes a major
contribution to patient care. Orphan Drug Designation neither shortens the development time or regulatory review time of a drug or
therapeutic biologic nor gives the drug or therapeutic biologic any advantage in the regulatory review or approval process. In addition,
while we may seek Orphan Drug Designation for our product candidates, we may never receive such designations.
Tax reform legislation passed in 2017 reduced the amount of the qualified clinical research costs for a designated orphan product that
a sponsor may claim as a credit from 50% to 25%. Thus, further limiting the advantage, and may impact our future business strategy
of seeking the Orphan Drug Designation.
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly or may fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts,
each of which may cause our stock price to fluctuate or decline.
We expect our operating results to be subject to quarterly fluctuations. Our net loss and other operating results will be affected by
numerous factors, including:
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variations in the level of expense related to the ongoing development of our PROBODY platform, our product candidates
or future development programs;
results of clinical trials, or the addition or termination of clinical trials or funding support by us, or existing or future
collaborators or licensing partners;
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our execution of any additional collaboration, licensing or similar arrangements, and the timing of payments we may
make or receive under existing or future arrangements or the termination or modification of any such existing or future
arrangements;
developments or disputes concerning patents or other proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our
ability to obtain patent protection for our products;
any intellectual property infringement lawsuit or opposition, interference or cancellation proceeding in which we may
become involved, including the ongoing patent infringement lawsuit brought by Vytacera against us;
additions and departures of key personnel;
strategic decisions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs, joint ventures, strategic
investments or changes in business strategy;
if any of our product candidates receives regulatory approval, the terms of such approval and market acceptance and
demand for such product candidates;
regulatory developments affecting our product candidates or those of our competitors; and
changes in general market and economic conditions.
If our quarterly operating results fall below the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the price of our common stock could
decline substantially. Furthermore, any quarterly fluctuations in our operating results may, in turn, cause the price of our stock to
fluctuate substantially. We believe that quarterly comparisons of our financial results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be
relied upon as an indication of our future performance.
If we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in a timely manner or with
adequate compliance, we may be subject to a loss of stockholder confidence and sanctions or investigations by regulatory
authorities or litigation.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that we evaluate and determine the effectiveness of our internal controls over
financial reporting and provide a management report on the internal control over financial reporting. The process of designing and
implementing effective internal controls is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and
the economic and regulatory environments and to expend significant resources to maintain a system of internal controls that is
adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations as a public company. If we are unable to establish or maintain appropriate internal
financial reporting controls and procedures, it could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations on a timely basis, result in
material misstatements in our consolidated financial statements, and harm our operating results. In addition, we are required, pursuant
to Section 404, to furnish a report by our management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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 in accordance with generally
acceptable accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). This assessment includes disclosure of any material weaknesses
identified by management in its internal control over financial reporting. The rules governing the standards that must be met for
management to assess its internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing, and
possible remediation. Testing and maintaining internal controls may divert management’s attention from other matters that are
important to our business. A failure in any of these obligations or requirements could subject us to a loss of stockholder confidence
and sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities or litigation.
In connection with the implementation of the necessary practices and procedures related to internal control over financial reporting,
we may identify deficiencies that we may not be able to remediate before our management is required to furnish the annual report on
the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our testing, or the testing (if required) by our independent registered
public accounting firm, may reveal deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material
weaknesses. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that
there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity’s financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a
timely basis. Any material weaknesses could result in a material misstatement of our annual or quarterly consolidated financial
statements or disclosures that may not be prevented or detected. The existence of any material weakness would require management to
devote significant time and incur significant expense to remediate any such material weakness, and management may not be able to
remediate any such material weakness in a timely manner.
If we fail to implement the requirements of Section 404 in the required timeframe, we may be subject to sanctions or investigations by
regulatory authorities, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and The Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Furthermore, if we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, we could lose investor
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confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our securities could decline, and we could be
subject to sanctions or investigations by regulatory authorities or litigation. Failure to implement or maintain effective internal control
over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures required of public companies could also restrict our future access to
the capital markets.
In connection with preparing our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2022, we determined that a material weakness
existed in our internal control over financial reporting due to ineffective controls for evaluation and review of the accounting for
revenue recognition. We initiated plans to remediate the material weakness and determined that as of June 30, 2023, the material
weakness had been remediated. There can be no assurance that we will not identify additional material weaknesses in the future.
In future periods, if our management is unable to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting, or to certify
the effectiveness of such controls, or if additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting are identified,
our ability to record, process, and report financial information accurately, and to prepare financial statements within the time periods
specified by the rules and forms of the SEC, could be adversely affected which, in turn, may adversely affect our business and the
market price of our securities.
We will no longer be a “smaller reporting company” in 2024 and as a result we are or will be subject to certain enhanced
disclosure requirements which will require us to incur significant expenses and expend time and resources.
We will no longer be a “smaller reporting company,” in 2024 and, as a result, we are or will be required to comply with various
disclosure and compliance requirements that did not previously apply, such as the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Section 404), the requirement that we hold a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation,
the requirement to provide more detailed executive compensation disclosure and the reduction in the amount of time for filing our
periodic and annual reports. Compliance with these additional requirements increases our legal and financial compliance costs and
causes management and other personnel to divert attention from operational and other business matters to these additional public
company reporting requirements. In addition, if we are not able to comply with changing requirements in a timely manner, the market
price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to delisting proceedings by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or sanctions or
investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.
We are not required to reflect the change in our smaller reporting company status and comply with the increased disclosure obligations
until our quarterly report for the quarter ending March 31, 2024, the first quarter in our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. We will
need to reassess, as of June 30, 2024, whether we will continue to qualify as a large accelerated filer for filings beyond the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2024.
Our stock price may be volatile and purchasers of our common stock could incur substantial losses.
Our stock price is volatile. Since our initial public offering (“IPO”), our stock had low and high sales prices in the range of $1.07 and
$35.00 per share. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by many factors, including the other risks described in
this section titled “Risk Factors” and the following:
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results of clinical trials and preclinical studies of our product candidates, or those of our competitors or our collaborators;
regulatory or legal developments in the U.S. and other countries, especially changes in laws or regulations applicable to
our products;
the success of competitive products or technologies;
introductions and announcements of new products by us, our future commercialization partners, or our competitors, and
the timing of these introductions or announcements;
actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to our products, clinical studies, manufacturing process or sales and
marketing terms;
the extent to which any pandemic and related governmental regulations and restrictions may impact our business,
including our research, clinical trials, manufacturing and financial condition, as well as the impact of other natural
disasters and other calamities;
actual or anticipated variations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us;
the success of our efforts to acquire or in-license additional technologies, products or product candidates;
developments concerning any existing or future collaborations, including but not limited to those with our sources of
manufacturing supply and our commercialization partners;
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market conditions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors;
announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic collaborations, joint ventures or capital
commitments;
developments or disputes concerning patents or other proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our
ability to obtain patent protection for our products;
our ability or inability to raise additional capital and the terms on which we raise it;
the recruitment or departure of key personnel;
changes in the structure of healthcare payment systems;
actual or anticipated changes in earnings estimates or changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding our
common stock, other comparable companies or our industry generally;
our failure or the failure of our competitors to meet analysts’ projections or guidance that we or our competitors may give
to the market;
fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;
announcement and expectation of additional financing efforts;
speculation in the press or investment community;
trading volume of our common stock;
sales of our common stock by us or our stockholders;
the concentrated ownership of our common stock;
changes in accounting principles;
terrorist acts, acts of war or periods of widespread civil unrest;
natural disasters and other calamities; and
general economic, industry and market conditions.
The stock markets in general, and the markets for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks in particular, have
experienced extreme volatility that has been often unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. These broad market and
industry factors may seriously harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance.
The future issuance of equity or of debt securities that are convertible into equity will dilute our share capital.
We may choose to raise additional capital in the future, depending on market conditions, strategic considerations and operational
requirements. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the issuance of shares or other securities convertible into shares,
our stockholders will be diluted. On February 27, 2020, we entered into an Open Market Sale Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”)
with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), to sell shares of our common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, with aggregate gross sales
proceeds of up to $75,000,000, from time to time, through an at the market offering under which Jefferies will act as sales agent. We
have issued securities under the Sales Agreement and may do so in the future. In addition, in January and February 2021, we sold
16,428,571 shares of our common stock at $7.00 per share in an underwritten public offering. In July 2023, we sold pre-funded
warrants to purchase up to 14,423,077 shares of common stock and accompanying Tranche Warrants to purchase up to 11,538,462
shares of our common stock. Future issuances of our common stock or other equity securities pursuant to the Sales Agreement or
otherwise, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and impair our
ability to raise capital through future offerings of shares or equity securities. Additionally, future sales of our common stock at prices
below the exercise price of the Tranche Warrants may lower the exercise price of the Tranche Warrants. No prediction can be made as
to the effect, if any, that future sales of common stock or the availability of common stock for future sales will have on the trading
price of our common stock.
The employment agreements with our executive officers may require us to pay severance benefits to officers in connection with
termination of employment or upon a change of control of us, which could harm our financial condition.
Each of our executive officers is entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to one year or more of his or her base salary as well as
continued medical and dental coverage for a period of one year or more plus a prorated portion of his or her target annual bonus for
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the calendar year in which his or her employment is terminated following his or her termination of employment due to good reason or
without cause. In the event of a change in control and a termination of employment without cause or due to good reason, each of our
executive officers would similarly receive one year or more of his or her base salary as well as continued medical and dental coverage
for a period of one year or more, as well as an additional lump sum payment equal to 100% or more of his or her target annual bonus
for the calendar year in which his or her employment is terminated and full vesting of his or her outstanding option awards. The
accelerated vesting of options could result in dilution to our existing stockholders and harm the market price of our common stock.
Furthermore, the payment of these severance benefits could harm our financial condition. In addition, these potential severance
payments may discourage or prevent third parties from seeking a business combination with us.
An active market for our common stock may not be maintained.
Prior to our IPO in October 2015, there had been no public market for shares of our common stock. Our stock began trading on the
Nasdaq Global Select Market in 2015, and we can provide no assurance that we will be able to maintain an active trading market on
The Nasdaq Global Select Market or any other exchange in the future. If an active market for our common stock is not maintained, it
may be difficult to sell shares without depressing the market price for the shares or at all. An inactive market may also impair our
ability to raise capital by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other businesses, applications or technologies using our
shares as consideration.
Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control
over matters subject to stockholder approval.
As of December 31, 2023, our executive officers, directors, holders of 5% or more of our capital stock based on publicly available
filings made with the SEC and their respective affiliates beneficially owned approximately 23% of our outstanding common stock. In
addition, in our July 2023 private placement, a certain holder of 5% or more of our capital stock acquired pre-funded warrants and
accompanying Tranche Warrants to purchase shares of our common stock. Until exercised, the shares issuable upon the exercise of the
pre-funded warrants and the Tranche Warrants are not included in the number of our outstanding shares of common stock. If such
holder exercises their warrants, then the shares of our capital stock beneficially owned by our executive officers, directors, holders of
5% or more of our capital stock and their respective affiliates would increase significantly. Therefore, these stockholders have the
ability to influence us through this ownership position. These stockholders may be able to determine all matters requiring stockholder
approval. For example, these stockholders may be able to control elections of directors, amendments of our organizational documents,
or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition
proposals or offers for our common stock that our stockholders may feel are in their best interest.
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of us, which may be
beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current
management.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws may delay or prevent an
acquisition of us or a change in our management. In addition, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our
stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our
board of directors. Because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these
provisions could in turn affect any attempt by our stockholders to replace current members of our management team. These provisions
include:
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a prohibition on actions by our stockholders by written consent;
a requirement that special meetings of stockholders, which our company is not obligated to call more than once per
calendar year, be called only by the chairman of our board of directors, our chief executive officer, our board of directors
pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors, or, subject to certain conditions,
by our secretary at the request of the stockholders holding of record, in the aggregate, shares entitled to cast not less than
ten percent of the votes at a meeting of the stockholders (assuming all shares entitled to vote at such meeting were present
and voted);
advance notice requirements for election to our board of directors and for proposing matters that can be acted upon at
stockholder meetings;
division of our board of directors into three classes, serving staggered terms of three years each; and
the authority of the board of directors to issue preferred stock with such terms as the board of directors may determine.
Moreover, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as amended, which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15 percent of our outstanding voting stock from
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merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15
percent of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner. These provisions would
apply even if the proposed merger or acquisition could be considered beneficial by some stockholders.
We incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management is required to devote substantial time
to new compliance initiatives and corporate governance practices.
As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of The Nasdaq Global Select Market 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. Our management and other personnel need to devote a
substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial
compliance costs and make some activities more time consuming and costly. For example, we expect that these rules and regulations
may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, which in turn could make it
more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors. However, 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.
Because we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future, capital appreciation, if any,
will be your sole source of gain.
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to
finance the growth and development of our business. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole
source of gain for the foreseeable future.
We may incur significant costs from class action litigation due to our expected stock volatility.
Our stock price may fluctuate for many reasons, including as a result of public announcements regarding the progress of our
development efforts or the development efforts of future collaborators or competitors, the addition or departure of our key personnel,
variations in our quarterly operating results and changes in market valuations of biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
This risk is especially relevant to us because biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have experienced significant stock price
volatility in recent years. When the market price of a stock has been volatile as our stock price may be, holders of that stock have
occasionally brought securities class action litigation against the company that issued the stock. For example, in May 2020, a putative
securities class action lawsuit was brought against us (“Class Action Lawsuit”). While the Class Action Lawsuit was voluntarily
dismissed without prejudice by the plaintiff and his attorneys in January 2021, a similar lawsuit or another lawsuit could be filed in the
future. Stockholder lawsuits of this type against us, even if it is without merit, could cause us to incur substantial costs defending the
lawsuit. The lawsuit could also divert the time and attention of our management.
Our amended and restated bylaws designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for
certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by 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, subject to limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be
the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, any action asserting a claim of breach of a
fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, any action asserting a claim against
us arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our amended and
restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or any other action asserting a claim against us that is
governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital
stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation described above. This choice of forum provision 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 such lawsuits against us
and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or
proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect
our business and financial condition.
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General Risk Factors
Any future pandemic could adversely impact our business, including our research, clinical trials, including clinical trial site
initiation and patient enrollment, and financial condition.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. Since then, COVID-19
has spread to multiple countries, including the United States and European and Asia-Pacific countries, including countries in which we
have planned or active clinical trial sites. As COVID-19 and its variants continue to spread around the globe, we may continue to
experience disruptions that could severely impact our business, research, including research for our partners or research of our
partners, and clinical trials, including ongoing or planned clinical trials for CX-904, CX-2051 and CX-801, and clinical trials of our
partners, including Bristol Myers Squibb. These disruptions and impacts may include:
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delays or difficulties in enrolling patients in our clinical trials or the clinical trials of our partners;
delays or difficulties in clinical site initiation for CX-904 or any other clinical trials, including CX-2051 and CX-801, we
or our partners decide to initiate, including difficulties in recruiting clinical site investigators and clinical site staff;
diversion of healthcare resources away from the conduct of clinical trials, including the diversion of hospitals serving as
our or our partners’ clinical trial sites and hospital staff supporting the conduct of our or our partners’ clinical trials;
interruption of key clinical trial activities, such as clinical trial site monitoring, due to limitations on travel imposed or
recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others;
difficulty in interpreting clinical data due to patients being infected by COVID-19 or other pandemic disease;
limitations in employee resources that would otherwise be focused on the conduct of our clinical trials or the clinical trials
of our partners, including because of sickness of employees or their families or the desire of employees to avoid contact
with large groups of people;
delays in receiving approval from local regulatory authorities to initiate our or our partners’ planned clinical trials;
delays in clinical sites receiving the supplies and materials needed to conduct our or our partners’ clinical trials;
interruption in manufacturing or global shipping that may affect the timely delivery or transport of research materials or
clinical trial materials, such as investigational drug product used in our or our partners’ clinical trials;
changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 outbreak which may require us or our partners to
change the ways in which clinical trials are conducted, which may result in unexpected costs, or cause us or our partners
to discontinue the clinical trials altogether;
delays in necessary interactions with local regulators, ethics committees and other important agencies and contractors due
to limitations in employee resources or forced furlough of government employees; and
refusal of the FDA to accept data from clinical trials in affected geographies outside the United States.
We cannot be certain of any future impact of COVID-19 variants or other pandemics on clinical trial planning, or that site initiation,
patient recruitment or other clinical trial activities for any of our product candidates will not continue to be delayed, discontinued or
otherwise impacted.
Furthermore, future pandemic and government limitations on activities may continue to impact our ability to conduct research,
including limiting our ability to obtain research materials and equipment, limiting access to our laboratories to conduct research,
limiting the ability or willingness of employees to work at our facilities and limiting our ability to complete research and experiments
in a timely basis or at all. In March 2020 we initiated a mandatory work-from-home program, limiting onsite activity to a substantially
reduced level of laboratory research activities. Although we increased laboratory research activities to normal levels and we adopted a
hybrid work from home model, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain current levels of such activity in another
pandemic. Furthermore, China from time to time, including in March 2022, has implemented additional regional lockdowns which
may continue to impact our ability to obtain some research and clinical trial materials on a timely basis. The COVID-19 pandemic and
government limitations could further impact our ability to conduct business generally, including making timely payments, filing
timely governmental and other business reports and filings, and otherwise comply with our obligations.
Any of the potential business, research and clinical impacts arising as a result of any pandemic could cause us to default on our
obligations to our collaborative partners, including our specific research and development obligations, potentially resulting in
termination of one or more collaborations, and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of
operation and prospects.
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In addition, a pandemic may negatively impact the trading price of shares of our common stock and could further severely impact our
ability to raise additional capital on a timely basis or at all.
COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve, including with the discovery of new variants/mutations of the virus. The extent to which the
COVID-19 or other pandemics impact our business, including our clinical trials, research and financial condition will depend on
future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the ultimate geographic spread of
the disease, the duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions and social distancing in the United States and other countries, business
closures or business disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States and other countries to contain and treat the
disease.
Adverse U.S. and multi-national financial market conditions may adversely affect our business and financial position.
The Company maintains the majority of its cash and cash equivalents in accounts with major U.S. and multi-national financial
institutions, and our deposits at certain of these institutions may exceed insured limits. Market conditions can impact the viability of
these institutions. In the event of failure of any of the financial institutions where we maintain our cash and cash equivalents, there
can be no assurance that we would be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all. Any inability to access or delay in
accessing these funds could adversely affect our business and financial position.
We may acquire assets or form strategic alliances in the future, and we may not realize the benefits of such acquisitions.
As we continue to mature our PROBODY platform and our clinical stage pipeline, we may seek to acquire and/or in-license other
oncology products, product candidates, programs or companies that we consider complimentary to our efforts. Such efforts may never
result in a transaction and any future growth through acquisition or in-licensing will depend upon the availability of suitable products,
product candidates, programs or companies for acquisition or in-licensing on acceptable prices, terms and conditions. Even if
appropriate opportunities are available, we may not be able to acquire rights to them on acceptable terms, or at all. The competition to
acquire or in-license rights to promising products, product candidates, programs and companies is fierce, and many of our competitors
are large, multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with considerably more financial, development and
commercialization resources, personnel, and experience than we have. In order to compete successfully in the current business
climate, we may have to pay higher prices for assets than may have been paid historically, which may make it more difficult for us to
realize an adequate return on any acquisition. In addition, even if we succeed in identifying promising products, product candidates,
programs or companies, we may not have the ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize such opportunities,
or the financial resources necessary to pursue them.
Even if we are able to successfully identify and acquire or in-license new products, product candidates, programs or companies, we
may not be able to successfully manage the risks associated with integrating any products, product candidates, programs or companies
into our business or the risks arising from anticipated and unanticipated problems in connection with an acquisition or in-licensing.
Further, while we seek to mitigate risks and liabilities of potential acquisitions through, among other things, due diligence, there may
be risks and liabilities that such due diligence efforts fail to discover, that are not disclosed to us, or that we inadequately assess. Any
failure in identifying and managing these risks and uncertainties effectively would have a material adverse effect on our business. In
any event, we may not be able to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition or in-licensing for a variety of reasons, including
the possibility that a product candidate fails to advance to clinical development, proves not to be safe or effective in clinical trials, or
fails to reach its forecasted commercial potential or that the integration of a product, product candidate, program or company gives rise
to unforeseen difficulties and expenditures. Any failure in identifying and managing these risks and uncertainties would have a
material adverse effect on our business.
In addition, acquisitions create other uncertainties and risks, particularly when the acquisition takes the form of a merger or other
business consolidation. We may encounter unexpected difficulties, or incur unexpected costs, in connection with transition activities
and integration efforts, which include:
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high acquisition costs;
the need to incur substantial debt or engage in dilutive issuances of equity securities to pay for acquisitions;
the potential disruption of our historical business and our activities under our collaboration agreements;
the strain on, and need to expand, our existing operational, technical, financial and administrative infrastructure;
our lack of experience in late-stage product development and commercialization;
the difficulties in assimilating employees and corporate cultures;
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the difficulties in hiring qualified personnel and establishing necessary development and/or commercialization
capabilities;
the failure to retain key management and other personnel;
the challenges in controlling additional costs and expenses in connection with and as a result of the acquisition;
the need to write down assets or recognize impairment charges;
the diversion of our management’s attention to integration of operations and corporate and administrative infrastructures;
and
any unanticipated liabilities for activities of or related to the acquired business or its operations, products or product
candidates.
If we fail to integrate or otherwise manage an acquired business successfully and in a timely manner, resulting operating inefficiencies
could increase our costs more than we planned, could negatively impact the market price of our common stock and could otherwise
distract us from execution of our strategy. Failure to maintain effective financial controls and reporting systems and procedures could
also impact our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements.
Our future growth may depend, in part, on our ability to operate in foreign markets, where we would be subject to additional
regulatory burdens and other risks and uncertainties.
Our future growth may depend, in part, on our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates in foreign markets for
which we may rely on collaboration with third parties. We are not permitted to market or promote any of our product candidates
before we receive regulatory approval from the applicable regulatory authority in that foreign market, and we may never receive such
regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. To obtain separate regulatory approval in many other countries we must comply
with numerous and varying regulatory requirements of such countries regarding safety and efficacy and governing, among other
things, clinical trials and commercial sales, pricing and distribution of our product candidates, and we cannot predict success in these
jurisdictions. If we obtain approval of our product candidates and ultimately commercialize our product candidates in foreign markets,
we would be subject to the risks and uncertainties, including the burden of complying with complex and changing foreign regulatory,
tax, accounting and legal requirements and the reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some foreign countries. We may
need to rely on third parties to market, distribute and sell our products in foreign markets.
Our information technology systems, or those of our CROs or other contractors or consultants we may utilize, may fail, suffer
disruptions or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption of our product development programs.
We are increasingly dependent on information technology systems and infrastructure, including mobile technologies, to operate our
business. In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store confidential and sensitive electronic information on our networks
and in our data centers. This information includes, among other things, our intellectual property and proprietary information, the
confidential information of our collaborators and licensees, clinical trial data, and the personal information of our
employees (collectively, “Confidential Information”). It is important to our operations and business strategy that this Confidential
Information remains secure and is perceived to be secure. Our information technology and other internal infrastructure systems and
those of our CROs and contractors and consultants are vulnerable to damage and interruption from computer viruses, unauthorized
access, natural disasters, terrorism, war, telecommunication and electrical failures, hacking, cyberattacks, phishing attacks and other
social engineering schemes, malicious code, employee theft or misuse, human error, fraud, denial or degradation of service attacks,
sophisticated nation-state and nation-state-supported actors or unauthorized access or use by persons inside our organization, or
persons with access to systems inside our organization. A system interruption or security breach that leads to disclosure or
modification of or prevents access to personally identifiable information or other protected information could harm our reputation,
compel us to comply with federal and/or state breach notification laws and foreign law equivalents, subject us to mandatory corrective
action, require us to verify the correctness of database contents and otherwise subject us to liability under laws and regulations that
protect personal data, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenue. Similarly, the loss of clinical trial data from completed or
ongoing or planned clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to
recover or reproduce the data.
Attacks upon information technology systems are also increasing in their frequency, levels of persistence, sophistication and intensity,
and are being conducted by sophisticated and organized groups and individuals with a wide range of motives and expertise. As a result
of our continued hybrid working environment, we may also face increased cybersecurity risks due to our dependency on remote
working technology and electronic monitoring of clinical trial sites, which may create additional opportunities for cybercriminals to
exploit vulnerabilities. Furthermore, because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to, or to sabotage, systems change
frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement
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adequate preventative measures. We may also experience security breaches that may remain undetected for an extended period. Even
if identified, we may be unable to adequately investigate or remediate incidents or breaches due to attackers increasingly using tools
and techniques that are designed to circumvent controls, to avoid detection, and to remove or obfuscate forensic evidence. To the
extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data, or inappropriate disclosure of
Confidential Information, we could incur liability, recovery of our data could take a prolonged period of time, and the development of
our research or product candidates could be delayed.
There can be no assurance that our and our third-party service providers’ risk management program and processes, including policies,
controls or procedures, will be fully implemented, complied with or effective in protecting our systems, networks and Confidential
Information.We and certain of our service providers are from time to time subject to cyberattacks and security incidents. While we do
not believe that we have experienced any significant system failure, accident or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur
and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our development programs and our business
operations, whether due to a loss, corruption or unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information or other similar disruptions. It
could also expose us to risks, including an inability to provide our services and fulfill contractual demands, and could cause
management distraction and the obligation to devote significant financial and other resources to mitigate such problems, which would
increase our future information security costs, including through organizational changes, deploying additional personnel, reinforcing
administrative, physical and technical safeguards, further training of employees, changing third-party vendor control practices and
engaging third-party subject matter experts and consultants and reduce the demand for our technology and services. If a security
breach or other incident were to result in the unauthorized access to or unauthorized use, disclosure, release or other processing of
personal information, it may be necessary to notify individuals, governmental authorities, supervisory bodies, the media and other
parties pursuant to privacy and security laws. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage
to, our data or systems, or inappropriate disclosure of Confidential Information, we could incur liability, including litigation exposure,
penalties and fines, we could become the subject of regulatory action or investigation, our competitive position could be harmed and
the further development and commercialization of our products and services could be delayed. Furthermore, federal, state and
international laws and regulations can expose us to enforcement actions and investigations by regulatory authorities, and potentially
result in regulatory penalties, fines and significant legal liability, if our information technology security efforts fail.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance
our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities. While we have implemented security
measures to protect our data security and information technology systems, such measures may not prevent such events. Further, our
insurance coverage may not be sufficient to cover the financial, legal, business or reputational losses that may result from an
interruption or breach of our systems. Significant disruptions of our information technology systems or breaches of data security could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The ongoing armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine or other international conflicts could adversely affect our business,
financial condition, and results of operations.
On February 24, 2022, Russian military forces launched a military action in Ukraine, and sustained conflict and disruption in the
region is likely. The length, impact, and outcome of this ongoing military conflict is highly unpredictable, and could lead to significant
market and other disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices and supply of energy resources, instability in
financial markets, supply chain interruptions, political and social instability, trade disputes or trade barriers, changes in consumer or
purchaser preferences, as well as an increase in cyberattacks and espionage.
Russia’s recognition of two separatist republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and subsequent military action against
Ukraine have led to substantial expansion of sanction programs imposed by the United States, the European Union, the United
Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, and other countries against Russia, Belarus, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, the so-called
Donetsk People’s Republic, and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, including, among others:
•
•
•
blocking sanctions against some of the largest state-owned and private Russian financial institutions (and their subsequent
removal from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment system) and certain
Russian businesses, some of which have significant financial and trade ties to the European Union;
blocking sanctions against Russian and Belarusian individuals, including the Russian President, other politicians, and
those with government connections or involved in Russian military activities; and
blocking of Russia’s foreign currency reserves as well as expansion of sectoral sanctions and export and trade restrictions,
limitations on investments and access to capital markets, and bans on various Russian imports.
In retaliation against new international sanctions and as part of measures to stabilize and support the volatile Russian financial and
currency markets, the Russian authorities also imposed significant currency control measures aimed at restricting the outflow of
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foreign currency and capital from Russia, imposed various restrictions on transacting with non-Russian parties, banned exports of
various products, and imposed other economic and financial restrictions. The situation is rapidly evolving, additional sanctions by
Russia on the one hand, and by the other countries on the other hand, could adversely affect the global economy, financial markets,
energy supply and prices, certain critical materials and metals, supply chains, and global logistics and could adversely affect our
business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are actively monitoring the situation in Ukraine and Russia and assessing its impact on our business, including our business
partners and customers. To date we have not experienced any material interruptions in our infrastructure, supplies, technology
systems, or networks needed to support our operations. We have no way to predict the progress or outcome of the military conflict in
Ukraine or its impacts in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Europe, or the U.S. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions, and
resulting market disruptions could be significant and could potentially have substantial impact on the global economy and our business
for an unknown period of time.
Additionally, other armed conflicts that arise from time to time, including the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, have the
potential to cause global impacts that could adversely affect the global economy, financial markets, energy supply and prices, certain
critical materials and metals, supply chains, and global logistics and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and
results of operations.
If we do not comply with laws regulating the protection of the environment and health and human safety, our business could be
adversely affected.
Our research and development activities involve the use of hazardous materials and various chemicals. We maintain quantities of
various flammable and toxic chemicals in our facilities in South San Francisco, California that are required for our research and
development activities. We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage,
handling and disposal of these hazardous materials. We believe our procedures for storing, handling and disposing these materials in
our South San Francisco facilities comply with the relevant guidelines of South San Francisco, the state of California and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor. Although we believe that our safety procedures for
handling and disposing of these materials comply with the standards mandated by applicable regulations, the risk of accidental
contamination or injury from these materials cannot be eliminated. If an accident occurs, we could be held liable for resulting
damages, which could be substantial. We are also subject to numerous environmental, health and workplace safety laws and
regulations, including those governing laboratory procedures, exposure to blood-borne pathogens and the handling of animals and
biohazardous materials. 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 these materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against
potential liabilities. We do not maintain insurance for environmental liability or toxic tort claims that may be asserted against us in
connection with our storage or disposal of biological or hazardous materials. Additional federal, state and local laws and regulations
affecting our operations may be adopted in the future. We may incur substantial costs to comply with, and substantial fines or
penalties if we violate, any of these laws or regulations.
Changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws or regulations that are applied adversely to us may have a material adverse effect on our
business, cash flow, financial condition or results of operations.
New income, sales, use or other tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be enacted at any time, which could
adversely affect our business and financial condition. Further, existing tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be
interpreted, changed, modified or applied adversely to us. For example, legislation enacted in 2017, informally titled the Tax Cuts and
Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), enacted many significant changes to the U.S. tax laws. Future guidance from the Internal Revenue Service
and other tax authorities with respect to the Tax Act may affect us, and certain aspects of the Tax Act could be repealed or modified in
future legislation. Changes in applicable tax rules, including changes to corporate tax rates, the realization of net deferred tax assets
relating to our operations, the taxation of foreign earnings, and the deductibility of expenses under future reform legislation could have
a material impact on the value of our deferred tax assets, could result in significant one-time charges, and could increase our future tax
expense.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue adverse or misleading
opinions regarding our stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish
about us or our business. If any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model,
our intellectual property or our stock performance, or if our target studies and operating results fail to meet the expectations of
analysts, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us
regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Risk Management and Strategy
We have developed and implemented a cybersecurity risk management program intended to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and
availability of our critical systems and information. Our cybersecurity risk management program includes a cybersecurity incident
response plan.
We design and assess our program based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework (NIST
CSF). This does not imply that we meet any particular technical standards, specifications, or requirements, only that we use the NIST
CSF as a guide to help us identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks relevant to our business.
Our cybersecurity risk management program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management program, and shares common
methodologies, reporting channels and governance processes that apply across the enterprise risk management program to other legal,
compliance, strategic, operational, and financial risk areas.
Our cybersecurity risk management program includes:
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•
•
•
risk assessments designed to help identify material cybersecurity risks to our critical systems, information, products,
services, and our broader enterprise information technology environment;
a security team principally responsible for managing (1) our cybersecurity risk assessment processes, (2) our security
controls, and (3) our response to cybersecurity incidents;
the use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, test or otherwise assist with aspects of our security
controls;
cybersecurity awareness training of our employees, incident response personnel, and senior management;
a cybersecurity incident response plan that includes procedures for responding to cybersecurity incidents; and
a third-party risk management process for service providers, suppliers, and vendors that have access to our critical systems
and information.
We have not identified risks from known cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any prior cybersecurity incidents, that have
materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our operations, business strategy, results of operations, or
financial condition. For more information, see the section titled “Risk Factor— Our information technology systems, or those of our
CROs or other contractors or consultants we may utilize, may fail, suffer disruptions or suffer security breaches, which could result in
a material disruption of our product development programs.”
Cybersecurity Governance
Our Board considers cybersecurity risk as part of its risk oversight function and has delegated to the Audit Committee (the “Committee”)
oversight of cybersecurity and other information technology risks. The Committee oversees management’s implementation of our
cybersecurity risk management program.
The Committee receives quarterly reports from management on our cybersecurity risks. In addition, management updates the
Committee, as necessary, regarding any material cybersecurity incidents, as well as any incidents with lesser impact potential.
The Committee reports to the full Board regarding its activities, including those related to cybersecurity. The full Board also receives
briefings from management on our cyber risk management program. Board members receive presentations on cybersecurity topics from
management and, where applicable, external experts, as part of our efforts to keep the Board updated on topics that impact similarly-
sized biopharmaceutical public companies.
Our management team, including our Vice President, Information Technology, and senior information technology staff, collectively
have more than 40 years of experience assessing and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats. The team has primary
responsibility for our overall cybersecurity risk management program and supervises both our internal cybersecurity personnel and our
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retained external cybersecurity consultants. Our management team’s experience includes information systems architecture, operations,
cybersecurity, data privacy protection, quality, and regulatory compliance experience.
Our management team supervises efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate, and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents through various
means, which may include briefings from internal security personnel; threat intelligence and other information obtained from
governmental, public or private sources, including external consultants engaged by us; and alerts and reports produced by security tools
deployed in the information technology environment.
Item 2. Properties
Our principal executive office is currently located in South San Francisco, California, and consists of approximately 76,000 square
feet of office and research and development space, all of which is located in a single building, under a lease that expires in October
2026. We believe that our existing facilities are sufficient for our current needs.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
On March 4, 2020, Vytacera Bio, LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against us in the U.S. District Court for the District of
Delaware. The lawsuit alleges that our use, offers to sell, and/or sales of the PROBODY® technology platform for basic research
applications constitutes infringement. The complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages. In September 2022, we filed a motion to
dismiss the case and the Court granted the parties’ stipulation to stay all pending case deadlines until that motion is finally resolved.
On October 30, 2023, Magistrate Judge Burke issued a Report & Recommendation that recommended granting CytomX’s motion to
dismiss all counts of the complaint. In January 2024, the case was transferred to a new Judge and the case will remain stayed pending
a ruling by the trial judge on the Magistrate’s Report & Recommendation. We believe that the lawsuit is without merit and intend to
vigorously defend ourselves. Accordingly, we cannot reasonably estimate any range of potential future charges, and we have not
recorded any accrual for a contingent liability associated with these legal proceedings.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
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 has been listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “CTMX” since our initial public offering in
October 2015. Prior to that time, there was no public market for our common stock.
Holders of Record
As of February 29, 2024, there were approximately 22 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. This number of holders of record also does not include stockholders whose shares
may be held in trust by other entities.
Dividend Policy
We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, for use in operation of our business and to fund future growth. We have never
declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Payment of cash dividends, if any, in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on then-existing
conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and
other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The information required by this Item regarding equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in
PART III. Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities
None.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Item 6. [Reserved]
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the attached financial statements and notes thereto. This Annual Report
on Form 10-K, including the following sections, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities
laws. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a detailed discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the “Risk
Factors” section in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We caution the reader not to place undue reliance on these forward-
looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis only as of the date of this Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to update
forward-looking statements, which reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Form 10-K.
For a discussion related to the results of operations for 2022 compared to 2021, refer to Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021" in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2023.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage, oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, conditionally activated
biologics designed to be localized to the tumor microenvironment. We aim to build a commercial enterprise to maximize our impact
on the treatment of cancer. By pioneering a novel class of localized biologic drug candidates, powered by our PROBODY®
therapeutic technology platform, we lead the field of conditionally activated oncology therapeutics and have established biologics
localization as a strategic area of research and development. Our vision is to transform lives with safer, more effective therapies with
the goal to address major unmet needs in oncology.
Our proprietary, versatile, multi-modality PROBODY technology platform is designed to enable conditional activation of potent
biologic therapeutic candidates within the tumor microenvironment, while minimizing drug activity in healthy tissues and circulation.
Our platform is built on a strong foundation of tumor biology expertise, including deep knowledge of tumor-associated enzymes
known as proteases. Proteases are tightly controlled in normal tissues but often dysregulated and active in tumor microenvironments
where they play important roles in cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Leveraging our deep scientific knowledge, we
conceived of and constructed our PROBODY therapeutic platform which allows us to genetically engineer biologic therapeutic
candidates to contain protease-cleavable masks. Our masking strategy is designed to reduce binding of biologic therapeutics to their
targets until the mask is removed by proteases in the tumor microenvironment, providing more selective targeting of the tumor.
We are employing our leading, conditional activation platform technology to address some of the biggest challenges in oncology
biologics research and development. These include the validation of potential new targets for antibody-drug conjugates (“ADCs”),
opening therapeutic window for novel T-cell engagers (“TCEs”) targeting solid tumors, and increasing the therapeutic index for
immune modulators such as cytokines. We are also exploring the potential for our PROBODY platform in preclinical research in areas
outside of oncology, including in our collaboration with Moderna.
We have utilized our PROBODY therapeutic platform to build a promising, broad pipeline of potential first-in-class and best-in-class
clinical-stage molecules. These are CX-904, a conditionally activated, PROBODY® TCE, targeting the epidermal growth factor
receptor (“EGFR”) on tumor cells and the CD3 receptor on T cells; CX-2051, an investigational, conditionally activated ADC
targeting epithelial cell adhesion molecule (“EpCAM”); and CX-801, an investigational, masked version of interferon alpha-2b
(“IFNα2b”). Our current clinical-stage molecules address targets or mechanisms that have been previously validated as having anti-
cancer activity but have been limited in their utilization due to systemic toxicities. We have incorporated our significant platform
expertise and clinical learnings to optimize predicted therapeutic index and the clinical potential of these promising agents through
tumor localized conditional activation.
Reinforcing our leadership in the field of conditional activation, in 2022 we advanced our first TCE into the clinic. CX-904, partnered
with Amgen, is a conditionally activated TCE against EGFR and CD3. In preclinical studies, CytomX’s PROBODY EGFRxCD3 TCE
demonstrated anti-tumor activity and better tolerability when compared to TCEs without PROBODY masking. In May 2022, the first
patient was dosed in a Phase 1 study evaluating CX-904 as a treatment for patients with advanced solid tumors. Patient enrollment in
the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of the study continues to progress. We reported in January 2023 that the initial single patient
cohort phase of the study was complete and that the “3+3” patient cohort phase had been initiated. Backfilling of certain dose
escalation cohorts has also been initiated and dose ranging continues. Initial Phase 1a data in EGFR positive solid tumors is expected
in the second half of 2024. A decision to potentially expand into Phase 1b is also anticipated in 2024, which will be taken in
conjunction with our partner, Amgen.
Our pipeline also includes CX-2051, a wholly-owned conditionally activated, PROBODY ADC paired with a next-generation
camptothecin payload and directed toward the epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM). CX-2051 is licensed from
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ImmunoGen. CX-2051 has been tailored to optimize the therapeutic index for the systemic treatment of EpCAM-expressing epithelial
cancers where previous industry efforts targeting EpCAM have not been successful due to dose-limiting toxicities. CX-2051 has
demonstrated a wide predicted therapeutic index and strong preclinical activity and tolerability in multiple preclinical models,
including colorectal cancer.
The IND for CX-2051 was cleared by the FDA in January 2024 and we expect Phase 1 clinical initiation in EpCAM expressing solid
tumors, including CRC in the first half of 2024. The Phase 1 dose escalation design will follow a Bayesian Optimal Interval (BOIN)
design and intended to demonstrate rapid clinical proof of concept and potentially move into dose expansion studies in 2025.
Another wholly-owned emerging product candidate is CX-801, an interferon ("IFN") alpha-2b PROBODY. IFNα2b provides a
potentially superior approach to activating anti-tumor immune responses than other cytokines. CX-801 is a dually masked,
conditionally activated version of IFNα2b that has the potential to become a cornerstone of combination therapy for a wide range of
tumor types. The IND for CX-801 was cleared by the FDA in January 2024 and initiation of Phase 1 dose escalation in solid tumors
including melanoma, renal, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is expected in the first half of 2024. In Phase 1 dose
escalation, we will use a BOIN design to evaluate safety and signs of clinical activity for CX-801 and progress into combinations,
where CX-801 has the potential to be cornerstone of therapy, including in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.
CX-2029 was previously developed in a global co-development collaboration with AbbVie. This program is intended to open a
therapeutic window for successful targeting of CD71, also known as the transferrin receptor 1 (“TfR1”). CD71 is a cell surface protein
essential for iron uptake in dividing cells and is highly expressed in a number of solid and hematologic cancers. However, given its
central role in iron metabolism, CD71 is present on most healthy cells and is thought to be an undruggable target with conventional
ADCs. CX-2029 is conjugated with the tubulin inhibitor, monomethyl auristatin E (“MMAE”), as the payload. In March 2023,
following the completion of the Phase 2 Study in squamous non-small cell lung cancer (“sqNSCLC”), head and neck squamous cell
carcinoma (“HNSCC”), esophageal and gastro-esophageal junction (“E/GEJ”) cancers, AbbVie notified CytomX that it would not
advance CX-2029 into additional clinical studies and terminated the 2016 CD71 License and Collaboration Agreement. CytomX re-
acquired full rights to CX-2029 but does not currently have plans to make further significant investments in the solid tumor program
in the near-term but continues to view CD71 as a target of strategic interest, including novel next-generation strategies.
Praluzatamab ravtansine is our conditionally activated ADC directed toward CD166 which was previously evaluated in a three-arm
Phase 2 study in patients with advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (“HER2”)-non-amplified breast cancer. Arms A
and B examined praluzatamab ravtansine monotherapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-non-amplified breast cancer
and TNBC, respectively. Arm C studied praluzatamab ravtansine in combination with pacmilimab (CX-072), our wholly-owned PD-
L1 inhibitor, in patients with TNBC. In July 2022, the Company disclosed topline data demonstrating praluzatamab ravtansine met the
primary efficacy endpoint of confirmed objective response rate greater than 10 percent in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-non-
amplified breast cancer. The confirmed objective response was 15% and demonstrated median progression-free survival of 2.6
months. Ocular and neuropathic toxicities were the most common treatment-related adverse events. Based on these data, the Company
announced it would deprioritize further investment in praluzatamab ravtansine. The final Phase 2 study data in advanced breast cancer
were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in 2022.
We are also continuously engaged in drug discovery efforts towards the generation of new clinical candidates across multiple
modalities for the treatment of cancer, including additional ADCs, Cytokines, TCEs, and mRNAs reflecting the versatility of our
PROBODY platform. We currently have more than 15 active drug discovery and/or development programs.
We do not have any products approved for sale, and we continue to incur significant research and development and general
administrative expenses related to our operations. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had an accumulated deficit of
$723.4 million and $722.9 million, respectively.
Global health authorities, including the FDA, regulate many aspects of a product candidate’s life cycle, including research and
development and preclinical and clinical testing. We will need to commit significant time, resources, and funding to develop our
wholly-owned and partnered product candidates in clinical trials. We are unable to provide the nature, timing, and estimated costs of
the efforts necessary to complete the development of our product candidates because, among other reasons, of regulatory uncertainty,
manufacturing limitations, and the pace of enrollment of our clinical trials, which is a function of many factors, including the
availability and proximity of patients with the relevant condition.
We currently have no manufacturing capabilities and do not intend to establish any such capabilities in the near term. As such, we are
dependent on third parties to supply our product candidates according to our specifications, in sufficient quantities, on time, in
compliance with appropriate regulatory standards and at competitive prices.
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Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Our revenue to date has been primarily derived from non-refundable license payments, milestone payments and reimbursements for
research and development expenses under our research, collaboration, and license agreements. We recognize revenue from upfront
payments over the term of our estimated period of performance under the agreement using an input method for the entire performance
obligation. In addition to receiving upfront payments, we are entitled to variable payments related to research and development
services provided and may be entitled to milestone and other contingent payments upon achieving predefined objectives. Revenue
from variable payments related to research and development or milestones and other contingent payments, when it is probable that
there will not be a significant revenue reversal, is also recognized over the performance period based on a similar method.
For the foreseeable future, we do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products unless and until such time as our
product candidates have advanced through clinical development and obtained regulatory approval. We expect that any revenue we
generate in the foreseeable future will fluctuate from year to year as a result of the timing and amount of milestones and other
payments from our collaboration agreements with Amgen, Astellas, Bristol Myers Squibb, Regeneron, Moderna and any other
collaboration partners, and as a result of the fluctuations in the research and development expenses we incur in the performance of
assigned activities under these agreements.
AbbVie, one of our previous collaboration partners, entered into a license agreement with Seagen Inc. (“SGEN”) to license certain
intellectual property rights. As part of the collaboration agreement with AbbVie, we received a sublicense to these intellectual
property rights and therefore paid SGEN sublicense fees. These sublicense fees were treated as reductions to the transaction price and
combined with the performance obligation to which they relate. Milestone payments, when considered probable of being reached and
when a significant revenue reversal would not be probable of occurring, are also recorded net of the associated sublicense fees and
included in the transaction price.
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred to conduct research, such as the discovery and
development of our product candidates, clinical development, including activities with third parties, such as contract research
organizations (“CRO”) and contract development and manufacturing organizations (“CMO”), and the manufacture of drug products
used in clinical trials, as well as the development of product candidates pursuant to our research, collaboration and license agreements.
Research and development expenses include personnel costs, including stock-based compensation expense, contractor services,
laboratory materials and supplies, depreciation and maintenance of research equipment, and an allocation of related facilities costs.
We expense research and development costs as incurred.
We expect our research and development expenses could vary substantially in the future as we prioritize our pipeline opportunities,
advance our product candidates through clinical trials, initiate additional clinical trials, and pursue regulatory approval of our product
candidates. The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming. The
actual probability of success for our product candidates may be affected by a variety of factors including: the safety and efficacy of
our product candidates, early clinical data, investment in our clinical program, the ability of collaborators to successfully develop our
licensed product candidates, competition, manufacturing capability and commercial viability. We may never succeed in achieving
regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. As a result of the uncertainties discussed above, we are unable to determine the
duration and completion costs of our research and development projects or when and to what extent we will generate revenue from the
commercialization and sale of our product candidates.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses include personnel costs, expenses for outside professional services and other allocated expenses.
Personnel costs consist of salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation. Outside professional services consist of
accounting and audit services, legal and other consulting fees. Allocated expenses primarily consist of rent expense related to our
office and information technology related costs.
Interest Income
Interest income primarily consists of interest income from our cash equivalents and investments, and accretion of discounts or
amortization of premiums on our investments.
78
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net consists primarily of gains and losses resulting from changes to currency exchange rates.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, or ASC 740, which provides for deferred taxes
using an asset and liability approach. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of
events that have been included in our financial statements or tax returns. We determine our deferred tax assets and liabilities based on
differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, which are measured using the enacted tax rates and
laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the weight of
available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We also account for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, we
recognize the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit will more likely than not be realized. The determination as to
whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as
consideration of the available facts and circumstances. The state of California contested our tax position on revenue apportionment for
upfront and milestone payments resulting from our collaboration and licensing agreements for the years 2017 and 2018. We received a
proposed assessment in September 2023 and filed a protest to contest the proposed assessment in November 2023. We recorded an
uncertain tax position of $3.9 million in long term liabilities for the proposed tax assessment, penalties and interest through December
31, 2023.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) was signed into law. Among other changes to the Internal Revenue
Code, the IRA imposes a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax on certain corporations and 1% excise tax on public company stock
buybacks for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. The Company does not expect these provisions to have a material impact.
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Revenue
The following table summarizes our revenue by collaboration partner during the respective periods:
AbbVie
Amgen
Astellas
Bristol Myers Squibb
Regeneron
Moderna
Total Revenue
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
(in thousands)
Change
$
$
3,688
5,739
24,453
49,300
7,194
10,840
101,214
$
$
18,563
4,967
20,491
9,142
—
—
53,163
$
$
(14,875)
772
3,962
40,158
7,194
10,840
48,051
The increase in revenue of $48.1 million for 2023 compared to 2022 was primarily due to:
•
•
•
•
•
An increase in revenue under the BMS Agreement driven by higher percentage of completion of the existing and new
targets selected in 2022;
An increase in revenue under the Regeneron Agreement and Moderna Agreement due to new preclinical studies that
commenced during the current year;
An increase in revenue under the Astellas Agreement primarily driven by a $5.0 million clinical candidate milestone
achieved in January 2023;
An increase in revenue under the Amgen Agreement driven by higher percentage of completion the CX-904 development
in the current year primarily due to an increase in projected hours-to-completion in prior year;
A decrease in revenue under the AbbVie Agreement due to termination of the agreement in March 2023.
79
Operating Costs and Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses by program incurred during the respective periods presented:
External costs incurred by product candidate (target):
CX-904 (EGFRxCD3)
Praluzatamab ravtansine, CX-2009 (CD166)
CX-2029 (CD71)
Pacmilimab, CX-072 (PD-L1)
Other wholly owned and partnered programs
General research and development expenses
Total external costs
Internal costs
Total research and development expenses
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
(in thousands)
Change
2,790
2,671
2,608
(120)
25,525
9,906
43,380
34,300
77,680
$
$
2,822
15,809
9,708
948
14,024
13,338
56,649
55,000
111,649
$
$
(32)
(13,138)
(7,100)
(1,068)
11,501
(3,432)
(13,269)
(20,700)
(33,969)
$
$
Research and development expenses decreased by $34.0 million for 2023, compared to 2022 primarily driven by a decrease in
personnel related expenses as a result of the workforce reduction in 2022, as well as winding down of laboratory contract services and
clinical study activities related to the CX-2009 and CX-2029 programs, partially offset by an increase in laboratory contract services
related to IND enabling activities for CX-2051 and CX-801 programs.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
(in thousands)
Change
$
30,018
$
42,849
$
(12,831)
General and administrative expenses decreased by $12.8 million for 2023, compared to 2022 primarily driven by a decrease in
personnel related expenses as a result of the workforce reduction in 2022, reduced external vendor services, and lower building rent as
a result of a partial sublease of the Company’s headquarters.
Interest Income and Other Income (Expense), Net
Interest income
Other income (expense), net
Total interest income and other expense
Interest Income
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
(in thousands)
Change
$
$
9,837
(30)
9,807
$
$
1,678
340
2,018
$
$
8,159
(370)
7,789
Interest income increased by $8.2 million during 2023 compared to 2022, primarily driven by higher interest rates in 2023.
Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2022
(in thousands)
Change
$
3,892
$
— $
3,892
The $3.9 million tax provision represented the uncertain tax position related to the proposed assessment received from the state of
California for the years 2017 and 2018, including penalties and interest through December 31, 2023.
80
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of Liquidity
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $174.5 million and an accumulated deficit of
$723.4 million, compared to cash, cash equivalents and investments of $193.7 million and an accumulated deficit of $722.9 million as
of December 31, 2022. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through sales of our common stock in conjunction with the
IPO, subsequent stock offerings and through our at-the-market offering, sales of our convertible preferred securities prior to our IPO,
payments received under our collaboration agreements and proceeds from private placements of our common stock, warrants and pre-
funded warrants. In November 2022, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(the “Regeneron Agreement”) to collaborate on preclinical research activities to discover and develop certain antibody compounds for
the treatment of cancer using the Company’s PROBODY therapeutic technology. Pursuant to the Regeneron Agreement, we collected
an upfront fee of $30.0 million. In December 2022, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with ModernaTX, Inc.
(the “Moderna Agreement”) to collaborate on discovery and preclinical research and development activities to create investigational
messenger RNA (mRNA) based conditionally activated therapies using the Company’s PROBODY therapeutic technology. Pursuant
to the Moderna Agreement, we collected an upfront fee and prepaid research funding of $35.0 million in January 2023. In July 2023,
we completed a private placement and issued pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 14,423,077 shares of common stock,
accompanying Tranche 1 warrants to purchase up to 5,769,231 shares of common stock and accompanying Tranche 2 warrants to
purchase up to 5,769,231 shares of common stock, at a combined price of $2.08 per share. We received gross proceeds of
approximately $30.0 million.
On July 13, 2022, we announced a restructuring plan to prioritize resources on our emerging pre-clinical and early clinical pipeline as
well as our existing collaboration partnerships. The restructuring plan resulted in a reduction to our workforce by approximately 40%,
and was substantially completed by the fourth quarter of 2022. We incurred aggregate restructuring charges of approximately $7.5
million, primarily related to one-time severance payments and other employee-related costs.
Based upon our current operating plan, we expect our existing capital resources will be sufficient to fund operations into the second
half of 2025. However, if the anticipated operating results and future financing are not achieved in future periods, our planned
expenditures may need to be reduced in order to extend the time period over which the then-available resources would be able to fund
the operations. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures depend on numerous factors, including the progress of our
preclinical and clinical development efforts, the results of any clinical trials and other studies, our operating costs and expenditures
and other factors described under the caption “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The cost and timing of developing
our product candidates is highly uncertain and subject to substantial risks and changes. As such, we may alter our expenditures as a
result of contingencies such as the failure of one or all of our product candidates currently in clinical development, the acceleration of
one or all of our product candidates in clinical development, the initiating of clinical trials for additional product candidates, the
identification of more promising product candidates in our research efforts or unexpected operating costs and expenditures. We will
need to raise additional funds in the future. There can be no assurance, however, that such efforts will be successful; or if they are
successful, that the terms and conditions of such financing will be favorable to us.
Summary Statement of Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:
Net cash used in operating activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
2023
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
(in thousands)
$
$
(56,035)
(150,674)
30,230
(176,479)
$
$
(110,788)
98,260
648
(11,880)
During the year ended December 31, 2023, cash used in operating activities was $56.0 million, which consisted of a net loss of $0.6
million and a net decrease of $62.4 million relating to the change of our net operating assets and liabilities, offset by non-cash charges
of $7.0 million. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of $8.6 million in stock-based compensation, $3.7 million in non-cash lease
expense and $2.1 million in depreciation and amortization, offset by $7.4 million in net accretion of discounts on our investments.
81
The change in our net operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to:
a net decrease of $89.0 million in deferred revenue resulting from the continued recognition of deferred revenue from
existing and new customers;
a decrease of $8.5 million in accounts payable, accrued and other long-term liabilities primarily due to decrease of
payroll-related expenses, restructuring related expenses, and laboratory contract services; offset by
an increase of $32.6 million in cash flows from accounts receivable primarily related to the receipt of the $35.0 million
upfront payment and prepaid research under the Moderna agreement entered into in December 2022.
an increase of $2.5 million in cashflows from prepaid and other current assets primarily due to a decrease in advance
payments to our third party manufacturing vendors and timing of payments.
•
•
•
•
2022
During the year ended December 31, 2022, cash used in operating activities was $110.8 million, which consisted of a net loss of $99.3
million and a net decrease of $30.7 million relating to the change of our net operating assets and liabilities, offset by non-cash charges
of $19.2 million. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of $13.1 million in stock-based compensation, $3.4 million in non-cash
lease expense and $2.7 million in depreciation, amortization, and impairment charges.
The change in our net operating assets and liabilities was primarily due to:
•
•
•
•
an increase of $35.2 million in accounts receivable primarily related to the upfront payment and prepaid research under
the Moderna Agreement entered into in December 2022;
a decrease of $9.8 million in accrued liabilities and accounts payable primarily due to timing of payments;
a decrease of $2.3 million in cash flows from prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets primarily due to
increase in advance payments to our third-party manufacturing vendors and timing of payments;
a net increase of $16.6 million in deferred revenue consisting of an increase of $69.6 million in deferred revenue related to
new agreements with Regeneron and Moderna partially offset by a decrease of $53.0 million resulting from the continued
recognition of deferred revenue from existing customers.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
During year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by investing activities was $150.7 million, which consisted of $424.8 million
used in the purchase of short-term investments and $0.8 million of capital expenditures used to purchase property and equipment,
partially offset by $275.0 million in proceeds received upon the maturity of marketable securities.
During year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by investing activities was $98.3 million, which consisted of $100.0 million in
proceeds received upon the maturity of short-term marketable securities, partially offset by $1.7 million of capital expenditures used to
purchase property and equipment.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, cash provided by financing activities consisted of $29.7 million of net proceeds from
issuance of pre-funded warrants and warrants and $0.6 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and employee stock
purchases under the employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”).
During the year ended December 31, 2022, cash provided by financing activities consisted of $0.6 million of proceeds from the
exercise of stock options and employee stock purchases under the ESPP.
82
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations that become due within the next year (in thousands):
Operating leases(1)
Royalty obligations(2)
License maintenance fees(3)
Milestone Payments (4)
Total contractual obligations
Payments Due by
2024
5,572
150
1,050
5,456
12,228
$
$
(1)
We lease our current facility under a long-term operating lease, which expires in 2026. The lease provides us with one option
to extend the lease term for a period of five years at the then fair market rental value.
(2)
We have royalty obligations under the terms of certain exclusive licensed patent rights. The royalty obligations are
cancellable any time by giving notice to the licensor, with the termination being effective 60 days after giving notice. See Part II. Item
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 9 - “License Agreement" in the accompanying Notes to the financial
statements for more information. Sublicense fees payable to UCSB for potential milestones that are probable to be earned by the
Company in 2024 are not included.
(3)
We have annual license maintenance fees under the terms of certain license agreement with UCSB and SGEN. See Part II.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 9 - “License Agreement” in the accompanying Notes to the financial
statements for more information.
(4)
We have development milestone payments under the terms of certain license agreements. A development milestone is
payable after dosing the first patient in a Phase 1 Clinical Study, which we expect to occur in 2024.
We enter into agreements in the normal course of business with CROs for clinical trials and with vendors for pre-clinical studies and
other services and products for operating purposes, which are cancelable at any time by us, generally upon 30 to 60 days prior written
notice. These payments are not included in the above table of contractual obligations. The above table also excludes unrecognized tax
benefits of $2.3 million as of December 31, 2023 related to uncertain tax position which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate
if recognized.
Segment Information
We have one primary business activity and operate as one reportable segment.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation
of these financial statements requires our management to make judgments and estimates 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
judgments and 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 our customer obtains control of the promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the
consideration which we have received or expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services.
Our revenues are primarily derived through our license, research, development and commercialization agreements. The terms of these
types of agreements may include (i) licenses for our technology or programs, (ii) research and development services, and (iii) services
or obligations in connection with participation in research or steering committees. Payments to us under these arrangements typically
include one or more of the following: nonrefundable upfront and license fees, research funding, milestone and other contingent
payments to us for the achievement of defined collaboration objectives and certain preclinical, clinical, regulatory and sales-based
events, as well as royalties on sales of any commercialized products. We assess whether the promises in our arrangements with
83
customers are considered as distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately. Judgment is required to
determine whether the license to our intellectual property is distinct from the research and development services or participation on
steering committees.
Our collaboration and license agreements may include contingent payments related to specified research, development and regulatory
milestones. Such milestone payments are typically payable under the collaborations when the collaboration partner claims or selects a
target, or initiates or advances a covered product candidate in preclinical or clinical development, upon submission for marketing
approval of a covered product with regulatory authorities; or upon receipt of actual marketing approvals of a covered product or for
additional indications. To date, we have concluded that these contingent payments should be fully constrained until the conditions are
met. At each reporting date, we re-evaluate whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved and estimate the
amount to be included in the transaction price by using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue
reversal would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price in such period of determination.
Our collaboration and license agreements may also include contingent payments related to sales-based milestones. Sales-based
milestones are typically payable when annual sales of a covered product reach specified levels. Sales-based milestones are recognized
at the later of when the associated performance obligation has been satisfied or when the sales occur. Unlike other contingency
payments, such as regulatory milestones, sales-based milestones are not included in the transaction price based on estimates at the
inception of the contract, but rather, are included when the sales or usage occur. As of December 31, 2023, no sales-based milestones
have been recognized.
The transaction price in each arrangement is allocated to the identified performance obligations based on the relative standalone
selling price (“SSP”) of each distinct performance obligation, which requires judgment. In instances where SSP is not directly
observable, such as when a license or service is not sold separately, SSP is determined using information that may include market
conditions and other observable inputs. Due to the early stage of our licensed technology, the license of such technology is typically
combined with research and development services and steering committee participation as one performance obligation. In the event
that we receive non-cash consideration such as consideration in the form of a research license and research support services from the
counterparty, the transaction price of a non-monetary exchange that has commercial substance is estimated based on the fair value of
the non-cash consideration received, which may be determined through a valuation analysis.
Most of our collaboration arrangements are related to delivering a combined performance obligation satisfied over time. Revenue is
recognized over the estimated research period using an input measure based on our actual full-time employee ("FTE") hours incurred
as a percentage of projected FTE hours for completing the performance obligation. We evaluate the measure of progress each
reporting period and, if necessary, we adjust the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. There have been changes in
estimates of research service periods and/or the related estimated FTE hours-to-completion of certain of our research development
programs in each reporting period. For example, changes in our estimated research service period resulted in recognition of higher
total revenue of $8.2 million for certain programs in aggregate and lower total revenue of $6.0 million for other programs in
aggregate, in the fourth quarter of 2023, as compared to the estimates in place at the end of the third quarter of 2023. Such adjustments
have impacted and will continue to impact the amounts and timing of our revenue recognized.
Any consideration payable to our customers is treated as a reduction to the transaction price and revenue, unless the payment to the
customer is in exchange for distinct good and services.
Research and Development Expenses
We record accrued liabilities for estimated costs of research, preclinical and clinical studies and contract manufacturing activities,
which are a significant component of research and development expenses. A substantial portion of our ongoing research and
development activities is conducted by third-party service providers, including CROs. Our contracts with CROs generally include
pass-through costs, such as regulatory expenses, investigator fees, travel costs and other miscellaneous costs. The financial terms of
these contracts are subject to negotiations, which vary from contract to contract and may result in payments that do not match the
periods over which materials or services are provided to us under such contracts. We accrue the costs incurred under agreements with
these third parties based on actual work completed in accordance with the respective agreements. In the event we make advance
payments, they are recorded as prepaid expenses and recognized as the services are performed. We determine the estimated costs
through discussions with internal personnel and external service providers as to the progress of stage of completion of the services and
the agreed-upon fees to be paid for such services.
84
We make significant judgments and estimates in determining the accrual balance in each reporting period. As actual costs become
known, we adjust our accruals. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different than the actual amounts incurred,
such estimates for the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary
and could result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any one period. Our accrual is dependent, in part, upon the
receipt of timely and accurate reporting from CROs and other third-party vendors. Variations in the assumptions used to estimate
accruals including, but not limited to, the number of patients enrolled, the rate of patient enrollment and the actual services performed,
may vary from our estimates, resulting in adjustments to clinical trial expenses in future periods. For example, during the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded a $0.7 million credit upon final reconciliation of the CX-072 clinical trial and a
$0.6 million credit in closing out certain activities of the CX-2009 clinical trial. Changes in these estimates that result in material
changes to our accruals could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Uncertain Tax Position
We file income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, the state of California and various other U.S. states. The state of California
contested our tax position on revenue apportionment for upfront and milestone payments resulting from our collaboration and
licensing agreements for the years 2017 and 2018. In September 2023, we received a Notice of Proposed Assessment (“NOPA”) from
the Franchise Tax Board. We recorded an uncertain tax position of $3.9 million in long term liabilities for the proposed tax
assessment, penalties and interest through December 31, 2023. Additional utilization of carryforward attributes and indirect federal tax
effects of the assessment would result in a reduction in deferred tax assets of $5.1 million. We filed a protest to contest the proposed
assessment in November 2023. Due to the ongoing nature of the examination and discussions with the state of California, we are
unable to estimate a date by which this matter will be resolved.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, and are
not required to provide the information under this item.
85
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
INDEX TO AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42)
Financial Statements
Balance Sheets
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit
Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Financial Statements
Page
87
89
90
91
92
93
86
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of CytomX Therapeutics, Inc.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022,
the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders' deficit and cash flows for the years then ended, and the
related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the 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 the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
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 Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) (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 audits
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part
of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no
such opinion.
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.
87
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, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the
critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the 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 accounts or
disclosures to which it relates.
Description of the
Matter
Accounting for revenue and collaboration agreements
The Company recorded revenue from collaboration agreements of $101.2 million for the year ended
December 31, 2023. As described in Note 2 to the financial statements, the terms of the Company’s
collaboration agreements may include licenses for the Company’s technology or programs, research and
development services, and services or obligations in connection with participation in research or steering
committees. Amounts received under these arrangements typically include nonrefundable upfront
payments and license fees, research funding, milestone and other contingent payments for the achievement
of defined collaboration objectives and certain preclinical, clinical, regulatory and sales-based events, as
well as royalties on sales of any commercialized products.
Auditing the Company’s accounting for revenue from collaboration agreements was complex and required
significant judgments primarily in identifying which elements represent distinct performance obligations,
determining the measurement and allocation of arrangement consideration, and evaluating estimates of the
total expected inputs under the input method for revenue recognized over time.
How We
Addressed the
Matter in Our
Audit
To test the accounting treatment for revenue from collaboration agreements, our audit procedures included,
among others, whether the identified performance obligations were properly determined, and the
transaction price was properly measured and allocated to the identified performance obligations. To test the
measurement of efforts toward satisfying the performance obligation, our audit procedures included,
among others, testing a sample of cash receipts, reviewing management’s analysis for accuracy and
completeness by agreeing data to the underlying contract, inspecting research or steering committee
minutes, testing the application of the input method for the recognition of revenue, including testing the
estimated total inputs and actual inputs incurred.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
San Jose, California
March 11, 2024
88
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Accounts receivable
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Goodwill
Restricted cash
Operating lease right-of-use asset
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities
Operating lease liabilities - short term
Deferred revenues, current portion
Total current liabilities
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
Operating lease liabilities - long term
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders' deficit
Convertible preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and
no shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.00001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized, and 67,310,838
and 66,228,046 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Accumulated deficit
Total stockholders' deficit
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit
See accompanying notes to financial statements
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
17,171
157,338
3,432
4,995
182,936
3,958
729
949
917
12,220
83
201,792
1,458
17,599
4,589
132,267
155,913
80,048
9,385
3,893
249,239
193,650
—
35,986
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152,608
180,059
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—
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(723,448)
(47,447)
201,792
$
1
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10
(722,879)
(85,751)
260,891
89
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Revenues
Operating expenses:
Research and development
General and administrative
Total operating expenses
Loss from operations
Interest income
Other income (expense), net
Income (Loss) before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Net loss
Other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments, net of tax
Total comprehensive loss
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
Shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted
See accompanying notes to financial statements
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
$
101,214
$
53,163
77,680
30,018
107,698
(6,484)
9,837
(30)
3,323
3,892
(569)
85
(484)
(0.01)
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$
$
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42,849
154,498
(101,335)
1,678
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91
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
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:
Amortization of intangible assets
Depreciation and amortization
Impairment loss on machinery and equipment
Accretion of discounts on short-term investments
Stock-based compensation expense
Non-cash lease expense
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Other assets
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities
Deferred revenue
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment
Purchases of short term investments
Maturities of short term investments
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of pre-funded warrants and warrants, net of issuance cost
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan and exercise of stock options
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing items:
Purchases of property and equipment in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
See accompanying notes to financial statements
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2023
$
(569) $
(99,317)
146
2,029
—
(7,419)
8,558
3,729
32,554
2,471
(56)
(1,426)
(7,041)
(89,011)
(56,035) $
(840)
(424,834)
275,000
(150,674) $
29,669
561
30,230
(176,479)
194,567
18,088
$
$
146
2,297
254
(52)
13,125
3,413
(35,196)
(3,181)
874
68
(9,784)
16,565
(110,788)
(1,740)
—
100,000
98,260
—
648
648
(11,880)
206,447
194,567
75
$
6
$
$
$
$
$
92
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Description of the Business
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage, oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing potent
biologics designed to be preferentially localized to tumors. The Company aims to build a commercial enterprise to maximize its
impact on the treatment of cancer. The Company is advancing potential first-in-class and best-in-class antibody-based therapeutics
created using its PROBODY® therapeutic technology platform that could meaningfully improve outcomes for cancer patients. Its
proprietary and unique PROBODY technology platform is designed to enable “conditional activation” of antibody-based drugs in the
tumor microenvironment while minimizing drug activity in healthy tissues and in circulation. The Company is located in South San
Francisco, California and was incorporated in the state of Delaware in September 2010.
2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Other Risks and Uncertainties
The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to other biopharmaceutical companies in the early stage, including, but not
limited to, the need to obtain adequate additional funding, possible failure of preclinical testing or clinical trials, the need to obtain
marketing approval for its product candidates, competitors developing new technological innovations, the need to successfully
commercialize and gain market acceptance of the Company’s products, and protection of proprietary technology. If the Company does
not successfully obtain regulatory approval, commercialize or partner any of its product candidates, it will be unable to generate
revenue from product sales or achieve profitability.
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-
term investments and accounts receivable. Substantially all the Company’s cash is held by one financial institution. Such deposits
may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company invests its cash equivalents in highly rated money market funds and its
short-term investments in U.S. Treasury securities.
Segments
Management has determined that it has one business activity and operates as one operating segment as it only reports financial
information on an aggregate basis to its Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, who are the Company’s chief
operating decision makers. All long-lived assets are maintained in the United States of America.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase
to be cash equivalents. Restricted cash represents a standby letter of credit issued pursuant to an office lease.
93
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the balance sheets that sum
to the total of the amounts shown in the statements of cash flows:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash - non-current assets
Total
Investments
2023
December 31
(in thousands)
17,171
917
18,088
$
$
2022
193,650
917
194,567
$
$
All investments have been classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) and are carried at fair value as determined based upon quoted
market prices or pricing models for similar securities at period end. Investments that are required for use in current operations and that
mature in less than 12 months are classified as short-term investments in the accompanying balance sheets. The amortized cost of
securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Dividend and interest income are
recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method
for determining the cost of securities sold.
The Company assesses impairment of its AFS debt securities investments at each reporting period. Unrealized gains resulting from
the excess of the fair value over the amortized cost basis of an investment are reported as a component of accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. Unrealized losses or impairments resulting from the fair value of the AFS debt security
being below the amortized cost basis are evaluated, using the discounted cash flow model, for identification of credit losses and non-
credit related losses. Any credit losses are charged to earnings against the allowance for credit losses of the security, limited to the
difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis of the security. Any difference between the fair value of the security
and the amortized cost basis, less the allowance for credit losses, are reported in other comprehensive income (loss). Expected cash
inflows due to improvements in credit are recognized through a reversal of the allowance for credit losses subject to the total
allowance previously recognized.
In the event of impairment of any security, if management (i) has the intent to sell such security or (ii) will more-likely-than-not be
required to sell such security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, such AFS debt security’s amortized cost basis will be written
down to its fair value through earnings along with any existing allowance for credit losses.
Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment are recorded at cost net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is provided using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. The useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:
Machinery and equipment
Computer equipment and software
Furniture and fixtures
Leasehold improvements
5 years
3 years
3 years
Shorter of remaining lease term or estimated life of the
assets
Maintenance and repairs that do not extend the life or improve the asset are expensed when incurred.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in
business combinations. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized, but are assigned to reporting units
and tested for impairment annually, or whenever there is an impairment indicator. Intangible assets are comprised of in-process
research and development. The Company assesses impairment indicators annually as of December 31 or more frequently, if a change
in circumstances or the occurrence of events suggests the remaining value may not be recoverable. Intangible assets that are not
deemed to have an indefinite life are amortized over their estimated useful lives. There was no impairment of goodwill or intangible
assets identified during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
94
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset (or asset group) may not be recoverable and prior to any goodwill impairment test. An impairment loss is recognized when the
total of estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset (or asset group) and its eventual
disposition is less than its carrying amount. Impairment, if any, would be assessed using discounted cash flows or other appropriate
measures of fair value. During the year ended December 31, 2023, there was no impairment of long-lived assets. During the year
ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $0.3 million related to certain machinery and equipment.
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenues are primarily derived through its license, research, development and commercialization agreements. The
terms of these types of agreements may include (i) licenses for the Company’s technology or programs, (ii) research and development
services, and (iii) services or obligations in connection with participation in research or steering committees. Payments to the
Company under these arrangements typically include one or more of the following: nonrefundable upfront and license fees, research
funding, milestone and other contingent payments to the Company for the achievement of defined collaboration objectives and certain
preclinical, clinical, regulatory and sales-based events, as well as royalties on sales of any commercialized products.
The Company assesses whether the promises in its arrangements with customers are distinct performance obligations that should be
accounted for separately. Judgment is required to determine whether the license to the Company’s intellectual property is distinct from
the research and development services or participation on steering committees.
The Company’s collaboration and license agreements may include contingent payments related to specified research, development and
regulatory milestones. Such milestone payments are typically payable under the collaborations when the collaboration partner claims
or selects a target, or initiates or advances a covered product candidate in preclinical or clinical development, upon submission for
marketing approval of a covered product with regulatory authorities, or upon receipt of actual marketing approvals of a covered
product or for additional indications. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company or the licensee, such as
regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. At each reporting date, the
Company re-evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved and estimates the amount to be included in
the transaction price by using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the
associated milestone value is included in the transaction price in such period of determination.
The Company’s collaboration and license agreements may also include contingent payments related to sales-based milestones. Sales-
based milestones are typically payable when annual sales of a covered product reach specified levels. Sales-based milestones are
recognized at the later of when the associated performance obligation has been satisfied or when the sales occur. Unlike other
contingency payments, such as regulatory milestones, sales-based milestones are not included in the transaction price based on
estimates at the inception of the contract; instead, they are included when the sales or usage occur.
The transaction price in each arrangement is allocated to the identified performance obligations based on the relative standalone
selling price (“SSP”) of each distinct performance obligation, which requires judgment. In instances where SSP is not directly
observable, such as when a license or service is not sold separately, SSP is determined using information that may include market
conditions and other observable inputs. Due to the early stage of the Company’s licensed technology, the license of such technology is
typically combined with research and development services and steering committee participation as one performance obligation. In the
event that the Company receives non-cash consideration such as consideration in the form of a research license and research support
services from the counterparty, the transaction price of a non-monetary exchange that has commercial substance is estimated based on
the fair value of the non-cash consideration received, which may be determined through a valuation analysis.
In certain cases, the Company’s performance creates an asset that does not have an alternative use to the customer and the Company
has an enforceable right to payment at all times for performance completed to date. In these cases, the Company utilizes judgment to
assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over
time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue. The
Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related
revenue recognition.
Any consideration payable to the Company’s customers is treated as a reduction to the transaction price and revenue, unless the
payment to the customer is in exchange for distinct good and services.
95
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) represents all changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) except those resulting from distributions to
stockholders. The Company’s non-credit related unrealized gains and losses on investments during the period represent the component
of other comprehensive income (loss) that is excluded from the reported net loss.
Contract Balances
Customer payments are recorded as deferred revenue upon receipt or when due and may require deferral of revenue recognition to a
future period until the Company satisfies its performance obligations under these arrangements. Amounts payable to the Company are
recorded as accounts receivable when the Company’s right to consideration is unconditional.
Research and Development Expenses
The Company records accrued liabilities for estimated costs of research and development activities conducted by third-party service
providers, which include the conduct of preclinical and clinical studies, and contract manufacturing activities. The Company records
the estimated costs of research and development activities based upon the estimated amount of services provided but not yet invoiced,
and includes these costs in accrued liabilities in the balance sheets and within research and development expense in the statements of
operations. These costs are a significant component of the Company’s research and development expenses. The Company accrues for
these costs based on factors such as estimates of the work completed and in accordance with agreements established with its third-
party service providers under the service agreements. The Company makes significant judgments and estimates in determining the
accrued liabilities balance in each reporting period. As actual costs become known, the Company adjusts its accrued liabilities. The
Company has not experienced any material differences between accrued costs and actual costs incurred. However, the status and
timing of actual services performed may vary from the Company’s estimates, resulting in adjustments to expense in future periods.
Changes in these estimates that result in material changes to the Company’s accruals could materially affect the Company’s results of
operations.
Research and development expenses include costs directly attributable to the conduct of research and development programs,
including the cost of salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefits, materials, supplies, depreciation on and maintenance of research
equipment, the cost of services provided by outside contractors, and the allocated portions of facility costs, such as rent, utilities,
insurance, repairs and maintenance, depreciation, and general support services. All costs associated with research and development are
expensed as incurred.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company measures compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards, including employee stock options, restricted stock
units ("RSUs"), and employee stock purchases related to Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") based on estimated fair values of
the award at the grant date, and recognizes compensation expense over the requisite service vesting period. Stock options forfeitures
are accounted for in the period in which they occur.
To determine the fair value of a stock option award on the grant date, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model
which consist of estimating variables such as the following. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of
judgment.
Expected term. The expected term of stock options represents the period that the stock options are expected to remain outstanding and
is based on the Company's historical exercise experience with previously issued employee and board of directors' option grants. The
expected term of the ESPP shares is equal to the six-month look-back period.
Expected volatility. The expected stock price volatility for the Company’s stock options is based on the historical stock price volatility
which is commensurate with the estimated expected term of the stock awards. Volatility for ESPP shares is equal to the Company’s
historical volatility over a six-month offering period.
Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield with a maturity equal to the expected term of the
stock options in effect at the time of grant.
Dividend yield. The expected dividend is assumed to be zero as the Company has never paid dividends and has no current plan to pay
any dividends on its common stock.
96
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
The Company measures its restricted stock unit awards based on the market price of the Company’s common shares on the date of
grant. Share-based compensation expense for performance-based awards is recognized when it becomes probable that the performance
condition will be met. The Company reassesses the estimated probability at each reporting period, and if it is determined at a future
date that a performance condition is probable of being achieved, the Company will recognize a cumulative catch-up adjustment and
record the remaining expense ratably over the remaining requisite service period.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach. Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the net tax
effects of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective
tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in
which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its
deferred tax assets to reflect the net amount that it believes as more likely than not to be realized. Realization of the deferred tax assets
is dependent on the generation of future taxable income, the amount and timing of which are uncertain. The valuation allowance
requires an assessment of both positive and negative evidence when determining whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax
assets are recoverable. Based upon the weight of available evidence at December 31, 2023, the Company continues to maintain a full
valuation allowance against all of its deferred tax assets.
The Company recognizes the tax effects of an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that it will be sustained based
solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date and only in an amount more likely than not that it will be sustained upon review
by the tax authorities. The Company evaluates uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis and adjust the liability for changes in facts
and circumstances, such as new regulations or interpretations by the taxing authorities, new information obtained during a tax
examination, significant amendment to an existing tax law, or resolution of an examination. To the extent that the final tax outcome of
these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact the income tax provision in the period in which such
determination is made. The resolution of its uncertain income tax positions is dependent on uncontrollable factors such as law
changes, new case law, and the willingness of the income tax authorities to settle, including the timing thereof and other factors.
Interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters are recognized as a component of income tax expense.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception. Operating leases are recorded as operating lease right-
of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities in the Company’s balance sheet. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to
use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.
Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over
the lease term. The Company uses an implicit rate when readily available, or its incremental borrowing rate based on the information
available at lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU assets also
include any lease prepayments made and reduced by lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend the
lease when it is reasonably certain that such option will be exercised. Lease expenses are recognized on a straight-line basis over the
lease term. The Company elected the short-term lease recognition exemption. The Company’s operating lease arrangement includes
lease and non-lease components which are generally accounted for separately.
3. Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding
for the period. Diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share since the effect of the potentially dilutive securities is
anti-dilutive.
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are
calculated as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):
97
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Numerator:
Net loss
Denominator:
Shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Weighted-average pre-funded warrants
Weighted-average common shares outstanding used to calculate basic and
diluted net loss per share
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
Basic and Diluted
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
(569)
$
(99,317)
66,655,971
7,152,266
73,808,237
65,739,844
—
65,739,844
(0.01)
$
(1.51)
$
$
The following weighted-average outstanding shares of potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation of diluted net
loss per share for the periods presented, because including them would have been anti-dilutive:
Options and ESPP to purchase common stock
Common stock warrants
RSUs
Total
4. Fair Value Measurements and Investments
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
13,805,472
5,675,167
1,820,589
21,301,228
14,292,729
—
1,201,058
15,493,787
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the Company
determines the fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities using the fair value hierarchy, which establishes three
levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value, as follows:
•
•
•
Level I: Inputs which include quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level II: Inputs other than Level I that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets
or liabilities; quoted prices 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 assets or liabilities.
Level III: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of
the assets or liabilities.
The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and
accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities. The Company’s financial instruments consist of Level
I assets which consist primarily of highly liquid money market funds, some of which are included in restricted cash; and U.S. Treasury
securities that are included in cash equivalent or short-term investments.
The following tables set forth the fair value of the Company’s investments subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis and
the level of inputs used in such measurements:
Assets
Money market funds
Restricted cash (money market funds)
U.S. Treasury securities
Total
Valuation
Hierarchy
Amortized
Cost
December 31, 2023
Unrealized
Gains
(in thousands)
Aggregate
Fair Value
Level I
Level I
Level II
$
$
17,109
917
157,243
175,269
$
$
— $
—
95
95
$
17,109
917
157,338
175,364
98
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Assets
Money market funds
Restricted cash (money market funds)
U.S. Treasury securities
Total
Valuation
Hierarchy
Amortized
Cost
December 31, 2022
Unrealized
Gains
(in thousands)
Aggregate
Fair Value
Level I
Level I
Level II
$
$
64,706
917
29,941
95,564
$
$
— $
—
10
10
$
64,706
917
29,951
95,574
As of December 31, 2023, the remaining contractual terms of the U.S. Treasury securities are less than a year.
5. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:
Laboratory equipment
Computer equipment and software
Furniture and fixtures
Leasehold improvements
Construction in progress
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
2023
December 31
(in thousands)
2022
14,119
1,125
1,051
1,983
368
18,646
(14,688)
3,958
$
$
14,002
1,942
1,054
1,742
705
19,445
(14,373)
5,072
$
$
Depreciation and amortization expense was $2.0 million and $2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively.
6. Intangible Asset
The intangible asset is being amortized over the estimated lives of the patents which average 12 years. The amortization expense for
each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $0.1 million.
PROBODY platform intangible asset
Less accumulated amortization
December 31,
2023
2022
$
$
(in thousands)
1,750
(1,021)
729
$
$
1,750
(875)
875
99
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
7. Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:
Research and clinical expenses
Payroll and related expenses
Legal and professional expenses
Restructuring expenses
Other accrued expenses
Total
8. Collaboration and License Agreements
The following table summarizes the revenue by collaboration partner:
AbbVie
Amgen
Astellas
Bristol Myers Squibb
Regeneron
Moderna
Total revenue
AbbVie Ireland Unlimited Company
2023
December 31,
(in thousands)
2022
8,435
8,160
690
—
314
17,599
$
$
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
(in thousands)
3,688
5,739
24,453
49,300
7,194
10,840
101,214
$
$
13,089
8,060
1,413
1,627
261
24,450
18,563
4,967
20,491
9,142
—
—
53,163
$
$
$
$
In April 2016, the Company and AbbVie entered into two agreements, a CD71 Co-Development and Licensing Agreement (the
“CD71 Agreement”) and a Discovery Collaboration and Licensing Agreement (as amended and restated in June 2019, the “Discovery
Agreement” and together with the CD71 Agreement the “AbbVie Agreements”). Under the terms of the CD71 Agreement, the
Company and AbbVie were co-developing a conditionally activated antibody-drug conjugate (“ADC”), CX-2029, against CD71, with
the Company being responsible for preclinical and early clinical development. AbbVie was to be responsible for later development
and commercialization, with global late-stage development costs shared between the two companies. The Company was to assume
35% of the net profits or net losses related to later development and commercialization unless it opted-out. Under the Agreement, if
the Company was to opt-out from participation of co-development of the CD71 conditionally activated ADC, which included CX-
2029, AbbVie would have had the sole right and responsibility for the further development, manufacturing and commercialization of
such CD71 conditionally activated ADC.
Under the CD71 Agreement, the Company has received in aggregate $100.0 million in upfront and milestone payments. AbbVie had
entered into a license agreement with SGEN to license certain intellectual property rights pursuant to which the Company was
required to pay SGEN sublicense fees for certain milestone achievements and an annual maintenance fee. These sublicense fees were
treated as reductions to the transaction price and combined with the performance obligation to which they relate.
In March 2023, the Company announced that it would evaluate the potential next steps for CX-2029 following the decision from
AbbVie, to not advance CX-2029 into additional clinical studies. As a result of AbbVie’s decision, the 2016 CD71 License and
Collaboration Agreement has been terminated and the Company re-acquired full rights to CX-2029. The Company has completed the
performance obligation under the CD71 Agreement as of March 31, 2023 and recognized the related remaining deferred revenue of
$4.0 million in the first quarter of 2023.
100
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Under the terms of the Discovery Agreement, AbbVie received exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize
conditionally activated ADCs against up to two targets, one of which was selected in March 2017. AbbVie had the option to select a
second target in exchange for a $10.0 million payment. The Company concluded that, at the inception of the agreement, AbbVie’s
option to select the additional target was not a material right and did not represent a performance obligation of the agreement and
would be accounted for as a separate arrangement upon exercise. The Company shall perform research services to discover the
PROBODY therapeutics and create conditionally activated ADCs for the nominated collaboration targets. From that point, AbbVie
shall have sole right and responsibility for development and commercialization of products comprising or containing such
conditionally activated ADCs (“Discovery Licensed Products”).
Under the Discovery Agreement, the Company received an upfront payment of $10.0 million for the first target in April 2016 and
subsequently received an additional $10.0 million payment triggered by selection of the second target by AbbVie in June 2019. The
second target was selected under the Discovery Agreement that allowed AbbVie to select a target for developing a conditionally
activated ADC or a PROBODY antibody. In December 2022, the Company completed the performance obligation for the second
target earlier than the original research term projected to end in 2024 and recorded a cumulative change in estimate of $4.4 million. In
December 2022, the research on the two discovery targets under the Discovery Agreement concluded with no plans to advance the
discovery targets into clinical studies or to pursue new programs. The Discovery Agreement was also terminated in March 2023 by
AbbVie and all target rights have reverted back to CytomX.
The Company determined that the AbbVie Agreements should be combined and evaluated as a single arrangement in determining
revenue recognition, because both agreements were concurrently negotiated and executed. Therefore, the Company concluded that
there were two distinct performance obligations:
(1)
(2)
the CD71 Agreement performance obligation consisting of the CD71 Agreement research, development and
commercialization license, related research services and participation in the joint research committee, and
the Discovery Agreement performance obligation consisting of the Discovery Agreement research, development and
commercialization license, related research services and participation in the joint research committee.
The total transaction price for the Discovery Agreement and CD71 Agreement, collectively, upon adoption of ASC 606 on January 1,
2018 of $39.8 million consisted of $30.0 million in upfront payments, and a $14.0 million milestone payment received under the
CD71 Agreement (net of the payment of an associated sublicense fee of $1.0 million to SGEN), less $4.2 million of estimated
sublicense fees. The upfront payments under the AbbVie Agreements were allocated between the two performance obligations based
on the estimated relative standalone selling prices. The $30.0 million of upfront payments was allocated $20.0 million to the CD71
Agreement, with the remaining $10.0 million allocated to the Discovery Agreement. The $14.0 million milestone payment received
(net of the payment of an associated sublicense fee of $1.0 million to SGEN) and the estimated sublicense fees of $4.2 million were
allocated to the CD71 Agreement performance obligation as they are directly related to the development of the CX-2029.
Therefore, of the $39.8 million total initial transaction price discussed above, the Company allocated $29.8 million to the CD71
Agreement performance obligation and $10.0 million to the Discovery Agreement performance obligation and recognized revenue
using an input measure for each performance obligation. In applying the input method, revenue is recognized based on actual full time
employee ("FTE") hours incurred as a percentage of total estimated FTE hours for completing the combined performance obligation
over the estimated service period. The Company evaluated the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusted
the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
The Company updated the transaction price for the CD71 Agreement performance obligation in May 2018, to include achievement of
the $21.0 million milestone (net of the payment of an associated sublicense fee of $4.0 million to SGEN) and a revenue adjustment of
$9.9 million was recognized in the second quarter of 2018 reflecting the percentage completed to-date on the project related to this
milestone. The transaction price was updated again in March 2020 upon achievement of the $40.0 million milestone related to
satisfaction of the CD71 dose escalation success criteria and $26.6 million was recognized as revenue related to this milestone
reflecting the percentage completed to-date on the project as of March 2020.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, deferred revenue related to the CD71 Agreement performance obligation was zero and $4.0
million respectively, and there were no deferred revenues related to the Discovery Agreement performance obligation, respectively.
101
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Amgen, Inc.
On September 29, 2017, the Company and Amgen, Inc. (“Amgen”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Amgen
Agreement”). Pursuant to the Amgen Agreement, the Company received an upfront payment of $40.0 million in October 2017.
Concurrent with the Amgen Agreement, the Company and Amgen entered into a Share Purchase Agreement pursuant to which
Amgen purchased 1,156,069 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $17.30 per share for total proceeds of $20.0 million.
In October 2021, CytomX and Amgen executed an amendment to the Amgen Agreement primarily to (1) extend the target selection
date for Amgen to select its additional targets for research and development, and (2) reduce the total number of milestone events and
increase the total amount of milestone payments for EGFR Products. In May 2023, CytomX and Amgen executed an amendment to
the Amgen Agreement to extend the target selection period for Amgen to select its additional targets for research and development as
further discussed below.
Under the terms of the Amgen Agreement, as amended, the Company and Amgen will co-develop a conditionally activated T-cell
engaging bispecific therapeutic targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (the “EGFR Products”). The Company is responsible for
early-stage development of EGFR Products and Amgen will be responsible for late-stage development and commercialization of
EGFR Products. Following early-stage development, the Company will have the right to elect to participate financially in the global
co-development of EGFR Products with Amgen, during which the Company would bear a certain percentage of the worldwide
development costs for EGFR Products and Amgen would bear the rest of such costs (the “EGFR Co-Development Option”). If the
Company exercises its EGFR Co-Development Option, the Company will share in somewhat less than 50% of the profit and losses
from sales of such EGFR Products in the U.S., subject to certain caps, offsets, and deferrals. If the Company chooses not to exercise
its EGFR Co-Development Option, the Company will not bear any costs of later stage development. The Company is also eligible to
receive up to $460.0 million in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments for EGFR Products, and royalties in the
low-double-digit to mid-teen percentage of worldwide commercial sales, provided that if the Company exercises its EGFR Co-
Development option, it shall receive a profit and loss split of sales in the United States and royalties in the low-double-digit to mid-
teen percentage of commercial sales outside of the United States. In January 2022, the IND for the EGFR product (CX-904) was
allowed to proceed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).
Amgen also has the right to select a total of up to three targets, including the two additional targets discussed below. The Company
and Amgen collaborate in the research and development of conditionally activated T-cell engaging bispecifics therapies directed
against such targets. Amgen has selected one such target (the “Amgen Other Product”). If Amgen exercises its option within a
specified period of time, it can select two such additional targets (the “Amgen Option Products” and, together with the Amgen Other
Product, the “Amgen Products”). Except with respect to preclinical activities to be conducted by CytomX, Amgen will be responsible,
at its expense, for the development, manufacture, and commercialization of all Amgen Products. If Amgen exercises all of its options
and advances all three of the Amgen Products, CytomX is eligible to receive up to $950.0 million in upfront, development, regulatory,
and commercial milestones and tiered high single-digit to low-teen percentage royalties. The Company concluded that, at the
inception of the agreement and subsequent amendments, Amgen’s option to select the two additional targets is not a material right and
does not represent a performance obligation of the agreement.
At the initiation of the collaboration, CytomX had the option to select from programs specified in the Amgen Agreement, an existing
preclinical stage T-cell engaging bispecific product from the Amgen preclinical pipeline. In March 2018, CytomX selected the
program and this program is currently in preclinical development. CytomX is responsible, at its expense, for converting this program
to a conditionally activated T-cell engaging bispecific product, and thereafter, will be responsible for development, manufacturing,
and commercialization of the product (“CytomX Product”). Amgen is eligible to receive up to $203.0 million in development,
regulatory, and commercial milestone payments for the CytomX Product, and tiered mid-single digit to low double-digit percentage
royalties.
The Company considered the criteria for combining contracts in ASC 606 and determined that the Amgen Agreement and the
Purchase Agreement should be combined into one contract. The Company accounted for the Amgen Agreement based on the fair
values of the assets and services exchanged.
For each of the EGFR Products and the Amgen Other Products, the Company determined that the respective promised goods and
services identified, which are the research, development and commercialization license; the related research and development services
and the participation in the joint steering committee and joint research committee, are not distinct. Therefore the identified promised
goods and services were combined into one single performance obligation for each of the EGFR Product and the Amgen Other
Products.
102
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Furthermore, the Amgen Other Products are accounted for as a separate performance obligation from the EGFR Products as the nature
of the services being performed is not the same and the value that Amgen can derive from one program is not dependent on the
success of the other. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period using the input method and, if necessary,
adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
Concurrent with the execution of the Amgen Agreement, the Company entered into a sublicense agreement whereby the Company
granted Amgen a sublicense of its rights to one patent family that it co-owns with UCSB, that is exclusively licensed to the Company
under the UCSB Agreement covering PROBODY antibodies and other pro-proteins in the fields of therapeutics, in vivo diagnostics
and prophylactics. This sublicense was incremental to the patents, patent applications and know-how covering conditionally activated
T-cell engaging bispecific molecules that were developed and owned by the Company and licensed to Amgen. Under the UCSB
Agreement, as amended, the Company is obligated to make a sublicense payment to UCSB equal to up to 7.5% of certain upfront and
milestone payments owed to or received by the Company.
The total transaction price of $51.2 million, consisting of the $40.0 million upfront payment, an estimated fair value of $10.7 million
for the CytomX Product and $0.5 million of premium on the sale of the Company’s common stock, was allocated between the two
performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation. To determine the standalone
selling price, the Company used the discounted cash flow method by calculating risk-adjusted net present values of estimated cash
flows. The Company determined that the remaining potential milestone payments were fully constrained due to the uncertainty in
achieving them as of December 31, 2023.
Of the $51.2 million total transaction price, the Company allocated $46.4 million to the EGFR Products performance obligation and
$4.8 million to the Amgen Other Product performance obligations. The transaction price of each performance obligation was
recognized using an input measure. In applying the input method of revenue recognition, the Company uses actual FTE hours incurred
relative to estimated total FTE hours expected to be incurred for each combined performance obligation over the research service
period. At the end of the second quarter of 2019, the Company determined that it would undertake additional testing and assessment
of the molecules being evaluated under the EGFR project. As a result, the estimated FTE hours-to-completion and research service
period related to the EGFR project were increased to eight years. In the second quarter of 2020, the Company completed the clinical
candidate characterization phase and moved into the IND-enabling phase earlier than planned. As a result, the estimated FTE hours-
to-completion and research service period related to the EGFR project were decreased from eight to approximately seven years. In the
third quarter of 2022, the FDA initiated Project Optimus which is aimed to reform the dose optimization and dose selection paradigm.
As a result, the estimated FTE hours-to-completion and research service period were increased by approximately an additional year.
The $4.8 million transaction price allocated to the Amgen Other Product performance obligation is recognized using estimated FTE
hours-to-completion over the estimated research service period of six years.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 deferred revenue related to the EGFR Products performance obligation was $12.8 million and
$18.0 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, deferred revenue related to the Amgen Other Products performance
obligation was zero and $0.6 million, respectively.
Astellas Pharma Inc.
The Company and Astellas Pharma, Inc. (“Astellas”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Astellas Agreement”)
on March 23, 2020, the effective date, to collaborate on preclinical research activities to discover and develop certain antibody
compounds for the treatment of cancer using the Company’s PROBODY therapeutic technology.
Under the terms of the Astellas Agreement, the Company granted Astellas an exclusive, worldwide right to develop and
commercialize PROBODY therapeutics for up to four collaboration targets including one initial target and three additional targets
(“Additional Targets”). In addition, Astellas had the right to expand the number of Additional Targets from three up to five (the
“Expansion Option”) before the third anniversary of the effective date. Furthermore, for a specified number of targets, at a pre-
specified time prior to the initiation of the first pivotal study of a product against such target, the Company may elect to participate in
certain development costs and share in the profits generated in the United States with respect to such product (“Cost Share Option”).
The Cost Share Option, if exercised, will also provide the option for the Company to co-commercialize such product in the United
States. The Company does not consider the Cost Share Option as a performance obligation at the inception of the agreement as
participation is at the Company’s discretion.
Pursuant to the Astellas Agreement, the consideration from Astellas is comprised of an upfront fee of $80.0 million and contingent
payments for development, regulatory and sales milestones of up to an aggregate of approximately $1.6 billion. The Company is also
103
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
entitled to tiered royalties from high-single digit to mid-teen percentage royalties from potential future sales. Astellas is responsible
for all preclinical research costs incurred by either party as set forth in the preclinical research plan and the Company will receive
research and development service fees based on a prescribed FTE rate.
The Company determined that the license and expertise related to the development of product candidates should be combined with the
research and development services and participation in the joint research committee as one combined performance obligation for each
collaboration target. The Company concluded, that at the inception of the agreement, Astellas’ Expansion Option for Additional
Targets were not material rights and therefore not considered performance obligations. As such, each option would have been
accounted for as a separate arrangement upon exercise.
The initial transaction price of $103.2 million consists of the upfront fee of $80.0 million and estimated research and development fees
of $23.2 million. The transaction price was allocated between the four performance obligations based on the relative standalone selling
price of each performance obligation, which was deemed to be equal at the inception of the agreement. The Company determined that
all potential milestone payments are constrained as of December 31, 2023 due to the significant uncertainty of achievement.
The transaction price, as allocated to the combined performance obligation for each target, is recognized using an input measure. In
applying the input method of revenue recognition, the Company uses actual FTE hours incurred relative to estimated total FTE hours
expected to be incurred over the estimated research service period of each target.
In January 2023, the Company announced that it achieved a clinical candidate milestone under the Astellas Agreement which
triggered a $5.0 million milestone payment to the Company. The $5.0 million milestone payment was fully recognized in the first
quarter of 2023 as the Company had completed its related performance obligation of the collaboration target which resulted in the
clinical candidate nomination for further development.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, deferred revenue relating to the Astellas Agreement was $31.0 million and $44.5 million,
respectively. The amount due from Astellas under the Astellas Agreement was $2.2 million and $1.0 million as of December 31, 2023
and 2022, respectively.
Bristol Myers Squibb Company
On May 23, 2014, the Company and Bristol Myers Squibb Company (“Bristol Myers Squibb”) entered into a Collaboration and
License Agreement (the “BMS Agreement”) to discover and develop compounds for use in human therapeutics aimed at multiple
immuno-oncology targets using the Company’s PROBODY therapeutic technology. The effective date of the BMS Agreement was
July 7, 2014.
Under the terms of the BMS Agreement, the Company granted Bristol Myers Squibb exclusive worldwide rights to develop and
commercialize PROBODY therapeutics for up to four oncology targets. Bristol Myers Squibb had additional rights to substitute up to
two collaboration targets within three years of the effective date of the BMS Agreement. These rights expired in May 2017. Each
collaboration target had a two-year research term and the two additional targets had to be nominated by Bristol Myers Squibb within
five years of the effective date of the BMS Agreement. The research term for each collaboration target could be extended in one year
increments up to three times.
Pursuant to the BMS Agreement, the financial consideration from Bristol Myers Squibb was comprised of an upfront payment of
$50.0 million and estimated research and development service fees, and the Company was initially entitled to receive contingent
payments of up to $25.0 million for additional targets and contingent payments for development, regulatory and sales milestones. In
addition, the Company was entitled to royalty payments in the mid-single digits to low double-digit percentages from potential future
sales.
On March 17, 2017, the Company and Bristol Myers Squibb amended the BMS agreement and entered into Amendment Number 1 to
Extend Collaboration and License Agreement (“Amendment 1”). Amendment 1 granted Bristol Myers Squibb exclusive worldwide
rights to develop and commercialize PROBODY therapeutics for up to eight additional targets. The effective date of Amendment 1
was April 25, 2017 (“Amendment Effective Date”). Under the terms of Amendment 1, the Company continued to have obligations to
Bristol Myers Squibb to discover and conduct preclinical development of PROBODY therapeutics against any targets they chose to
select during the research period under the terms of Amendment 1.
Pursuant to Amendment 1, the financial consideration from Bristol Myers Squibb was comprised of an upfront payment of $200.0
million, estimated research and development service fees, and contingent payments for development, regulatory and sales milestones
104
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
for the eight targets. The Company was also entitled to tiered mid-single to low double-digit percentage royalties from potential future
sales. Amendment 1 did not change the term of Bristol Myers Squibb’s royalty obligation under the BMS Agreement. Bristol Myers
Squibb’s royalty obligation continues on a licensed-product by licensed-product basis until the later of (i) the expiration of the last
claim of the licensed patents covering the licensed products in the country, (ii) the twelfth anniversary of the first commercial sale of a
licensed product in a country, or (iii) the expiration of any applicable regulatory, pediatric, orphan drug or data exclusivity with
respect to such product.
The Company elected the practical expedient related to contract modifications upon adoption of ASC 606 and combined the original
agreement and Amendment 1. The Company determined that the identified promised goods and services which include the exclusive
research, development and commercialization license, the related research services and expertise for the development of the product
candidates should be combined with the participation in the joint research committee as one combined performance obligation for
each collaboration target. The Company also concluded that, at the inception of the agreement, Bristol Myers Squibb’s options for the
third and fourth targets were material rights and performance obligations. As such, the material rights were accounted for as part of the
initial transaction price.
The Company received an upfront payment of $50.0 million from Bristol Myers Squibb in July 2014. In January and December 2016,
Bristol Myers Squibb exercised the option to select the third and fourth targets, and paid the Company $10.0 million and
$15.0 million, respectively, pursuant to the terms of the BMS Agreement. In December 2016, Bristol Myers Squibb selected a clinical
candidate pursuant to the BMS Agreement, which triggered a $2.0 million pre-clinical milestone payment to the Company. In
November 2017, the Company recognized a $10.0 million milestone payment from Bristol Myers Squibb upon approval of the
investigational new drug application for the CTLA-4-directed PROBODY therapeutic.
The initial transaction price for the BMS Agreement and Amendment 1, collectively, was $304.7 million consisting of the upfront fees
of $250.0 million, target selection fees for the third and fourth targets of $25.0 million, estimated research and development service
fees of $17.7 million and milestone payments received up to January 1, 2018, of $12.0 million. The Company determined that the
remaining potential milestone payments were probable of significant revenue reversal as their achievement was highly dependent on
factors outside the Company’s control. Therefore, these payments were fully constrained and were not included in the transaction
price upon the adoption of ASC 606 on January 1, 2018. The initial transaction price for the combined obligation for each
collaboration target is recognized using an input measure. In applying the input method of revenue recognition, the Company uses
actual FTE hours incurred relative to estimated total FTE hours expected to be incurred for each combined performance obligation
over the estimated research service period of each collaboration target.
During the first quarter of 2019, Bristol Myers Squibb terminated pre-clinical activities on three of the first four collaboration targets
selected under the original 2014 BMS Agreement. The Company determined that upon the termination of pre-clinical activities on the
three collaboration targets, it has no further obligations related to such targets. The Company accounted for the termination of the
three targets as a modification and the related remaining unrecognized transaction price was reallocated to the remaining performance
obligations. The Company continues to be obligated to perform research work under Amendment 1 executed in March 2017.
In February 2020, Bristol Myers Squibb dosed the first patient in the Part 2 cohort expansion portion of its ongoing BMS-986249
clinical study for the CTLA-4 program, which triggered a $10.0 million milestone payment to the Company pursuant to the terms of
the BMS Agreement. The $10.0 million milestone payment was recognized as revenue in the first quarter of 2020 as the Company
had completed its performance obligation related to this collaboration target.
In February 2021, the Company and Bristol Myers Squibb amended the BMS agreement and entered into Amendment Number 2 to
amend the Collaboration and License Agreement (“Amendment 2”), as previously amended by Amendment 1. Subsequent to
Amendment 2, in addition to Bristol Myers Squibb’s ongoing development of the CTLA-4 program, Bristol Myers Squibb also had
the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize PROBODY therapeutics for up to five oncology targets. Under the
terms of Amendment 2, the period for target selection was extended and in 2022, all remaining targets were selected. The Company
will continue to collaborate with Bristol Myers Squibb to discover and conduct preclinical development of PROBODY therapeutics
against targets selected by Bristol Myers Squibb over the estimated research period, which is projected to end in April 2025. Pursuant
to Amendment 2, the Company was eligible to receive contingent payments for development, regulatory and sales milestones. It is
also entitled to tiered mid-single to low double-digit percentage of royalties from potential future sales. The Company accounted for
Amendment 2 as a modification and reallocated the remaining unrecognized transaction price to the remaining performance
obligations.
105
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
In October 2022, the Company and Bristol Myers Squibb amended the BMS Agreement and entered into Amendment Number 3
(“Amendment 3”), as previously amended by Amendment 1 and Amendment 2, to clarify the rights and restrictions of certain new
proprietary antibodies that the parties exchanged. There were no substantive changes to each party's performance obligations. As of
December 31, 2023, the Company was eligible for up to approximately $2.1 billion in contingent payments for development,
regulatory and sales milestones based on the ongoing collaboration projects, including for the CTLA-4 program, with BMS.
On March 6, 2024, following a Bristol Myers Squibb corporate portfolio prioritization process, Bristol Myers Squibb notified CytomX
that it does not intend to continue the development of BMS-986288 beyond the current Phase 2 study and terminated its work on the
CTLA-4 target under the collaboration. As of March 6, 2024, CytomX is eligible to receive approximately $1.8 billion in contingent
payments for development, regulatory and sales milestones for the ongoing collaboration programs.
The Company reevaluated the remaining potential milestone payments and determined that significant revenue reversal was probable
as the achievement of such milestones was highly dependent on factors outside the Company’s control. As a result, these payments
continued to be fully constrained and were not included in the transaction price on December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the
Company has received in aggregate $297.0 million in upfront and milestone payments under the agreement.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, deferred revenue relating to the BMS Agreement was $119.9 million and $169.2 million,
respectively.
ModernaTX, Inc.
The Company and ModernaTX, Inc. (“Moderna”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the “Moderna Agreement”)
on December 30, 2022, the effective date, to collaborate on discovery and preclinical research and development activities to create
investigational messenger RNA (mRNA) based conditionally activated therapies using the Company’s PROBODY therapeutic
technology. Moderna is solely responsible for the development (preclinical and clinical), manufacturing, and commercialization of any
products under the Moderna Agreement.
Under the terms of the Moderna Agreement, the Company granted Moderna an exclusive, worldwide right to develop and
commercialize PROBODY therapeutics for the collaboration programs. In exchange, the Company received an upfront payment of
$35.0 million in January 2023, including $5.0 million of prepaid research and development service fees. The Company will continue
to receive research and development service fees according to the preclinical research work plans based on a prescribed FTE rate and
is eligible to receive up to approximately $1.2 billion in future development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments. The
Company is also eligible to receive tiered royalties from high-single digit to low-teen percentage rates of annual global net sales of
any products that are commercialized under the Moderna Agreement. The Moderna Agreement also provided Moderna with an option
to participate in an equity financing by CytomX at market price, subject to certain terms, conditions and regulatory requirements.
The Company determined that each collaboration program was a distinct performance obligation consisting of the exclusive research,
development and commercialization license, research services, and participation in the joint steering committee. The initial transaction
price is $51.7 million, consisting of the upfront fee of $30.0 million and estimated research funding of $21.7 million from Moderna.
The initial transaction price excludes milestone payments as the achievement of such milestones is dependent on factors outside of the
Company’s control and recognition would be probable of significant revenue reversal. As such, the milestones are fully constrained at
the inception of the contract. The Company will re-evaluate the transaction price at each reporting date or as uncertain events are
resolved or other changes in circumstances occur.
The transaction price at the contract inception was allocated among the performance obligations using the SSP of each performance
obligation, which was determined to be equal due to the early stage of the collaboration programs. The transaction price allocated to
the collaboration programs is recognized using an input method. In applying the input measure of revenue recognition, the Company
uses actual FTE hours incurred relative to estimated total FTE hours expected to be incurred for the respective collaboration program
over an estimated service period of four years.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, deferred revenue relating to the Moderna Agreement was $24.2 million and $35.0 million,
respectively. The amount due from Moderna under the Moderna Agreement was $0 and $35.0 million as of December 31, 2023 and
December 31, 2022, respectively.
106
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Company and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Regeneron”) entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement (the
“Regeneron Agreement”) on November 16, 2022, to collaborate on creation of conditionally-activated investigational bispecific
cancer therapies utilizing the Company’s PROBODY® therapeutic platform and Regeneron’s Veloci-Bi® bispecific antibody
development platform. The Company and Regeneron will collaborate on preclinical research and discovery activities for initially
agreed upon collaboration programs (“Collaboration Program”) with an option to expand additional Collaboration Programs
(“Additional Collaboration Program Option”).
Under the Collaboration and License Agreement, the Company granted Regeneron an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license
under certain Company intellectual property to develop, manufacture, commercialize and otherwise exploit licensed products
(“Licensed Products”) for all human and non-human diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses in oncology. Regeneron is
responsible for funding the cost of preclinical research and discovery activities of both parties for all Licensed Products and for
funding the cost of development, manufacturing and commercialization of all Licensed Products worldwide.
Pursuant to the Regeneron Agreement, the consideration from Regeneron is comprised of an upfront fee of $30.0 million, contingent
payments for development and regulatory milestones and commercial milestone payments of up to an aggregate of approximately $0.8
billion. If Regeneron exercises its Additional Collaboration Program Option, the Company would be eligible to receive additional
upfront and milestone payments aggregating up to approximately $1.2 billion. The Company is also entitled to tiered royalties from
high-single digit to low-teen percentage royalties from potential future sales. In addition, the Company will receive research and
development service fees based on a prescribed FTE rate.
The Company determined that each collaboration program was a distinct performance obligation consisting of an exclusive research,
development and commercialization license, research and development services and participation in the joint research committee. The
Company concluded that at the inception of the agreement, Regeneron’s Additional Collaboration Program Option did not include
material rights and therefore was not a performance obligation. As such, each option will be accounted for as a separate arrangement
upon exercise. The initial transaction price is $39.2 million consisting of the upfront fee of $30.0 million and estimated research and
development service fees of $9.2 million. The initial transaction price excludes milestone payments as the achievement of such
milestones is dependent on factors outside of the Company’s control and recognition would be probable of significant revenue
reversal. As such, the milestones are fully constrained at the inception of the contract. The Company will re-evaluate the transaction
price at each reporting date or as uncertain events are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur.
The transaction price was allocated among the performance obligations using the SSP of each performance obligation, which was
determined to be equal at the inception of the agreement. The transaction price allocated to each performance obligation is recognized
using an input measure. In applying the input measure of revenue recognition, the Company uses actual FTE hours incurred relative to
estimated total FTE hours expected to be incurred for the combined performance obligation over the estimated research service period
of four years, which is projected to end in November 2026.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, deferred revenue relating to the Regeneron Agreement was $24.4 million and $30.0 million,
respectively. The amount due from Regeneron under the Regeneron Agreement was $1.1 million and $0 million as of December 31,
2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Contract Liabilities
The following table presents changes in the Company’s total contract liabilities for the years ended in December 31, 2023 and 2022
(in thousands):
Balance at 12/31/2021
Additions
Revenue Recognized
Balance at 12/31/2022
Additions
Revenue Recognized
Balance at 12/31/2023
107
Deferred Revenue
(in thousands)
284,760
69,555
(52,989)
301,326
6,438
(95,449)
212,315
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
The Company expects that the $212.3 million of deferred revenue related to the following contracts as of December 31, 2023 will be
recognized as revenue based on actual FTE effort and estimated program progress as set forth below. However, the timing of revenue
recognition could differ from the estimates depending on facts and circumstances impacting the various contracts, including progress
of research and development, resources assigned to the contracts by the Company or its collaboration partners or other factors outside
of the Company’s control.
•
•
•
•
•
The $12.8 million of deferred revenue related to the Amgen EGFR Products is expected to be recognized until 2026.
The $31.0 million of deferred revenue related to the Astellas Agreement is expected to be recognized until 2026.
The $119.9 million of deferred revenue related to the BMS Agreement is expected to be recognized until 2025.
The $24.2 million of deferred revenue related to the Moderna Agreement is expected to be recognized until 2027.
The $24.4 million of deferred revenue related to the Regeneron Agreement is expected to be recognized until 2026.
9. License Agreement
UCSB
The Company has an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with UCSB (the “UCSB Agreement”), relating to the use of certain
patents and technology relating to its core technology, including its therapeutic antibodies, and to certain patent rights the Company
co-owns with UCSB covering PROBODY antibodies and other pro-proteins.
Pursuant to the UCSB Agreement, the Company is obligated to (i) make royalty payments to UCSB on net sales of its products
covered under the agreement, subject to annual minimum amounts, (ii) make milestone payments to UCSB upon the occurrence of
certain events, (iii) make a milestone payment to UCSB upon occurrence of an IPO or change of control, and (iv) reimburse UCSB for
prosecution and maintenance of the licensed patents. If the Company sublicenses its rights under the UCSB Agreement, it is obligated
to pay UCSB a percentage of the total sublicense revenue received, which total amount would be first reduced by the aggregate
amount of certain research and development related expenses incurred by the Company and other permitted deductions. As part of the
UCSB Agreement, the Company has annual minimum royalty obligations of $0.2 million under the terms of certain exclusive licensed
patent rights. The royalty obligations are cancellable any time by giving notice to the licensor, with the termination being effective 60
days after giving notice.
In April 2019, the Company entered into Amendment No.3 to the UCSB Agreement to adjust and clarify certain sublicense terms
(“Amendment No.3”). In connection with the amendment, the Company issued to UCSB 150,000 shares of CytomX common stock
with a fair value of $10.68 per share. Under the terms of Amendment No.3, the Company and UCSB agreed to modify the
determination of sublicense revenues payable by the Company to UCSB on certain existing collaboration agreements and on
collaboration agreements executed subsequent to Amendment No.3. In exchange, the Company agreed to make an upfront payment
of $1.0 million as well as additional annual license maintenance fees of $0.8 million through 2031. In the event that the Company
terminates the agreement due to material concern of the safety or efficacy of the related technology, 50% of all remaining maintenance
fees will become due immediately. Otherwise, all remaining maintenance fees will become due immediately upon early termination
of the agreement unless there is a material breach by UCSB.
In 2022, the Company incurred $0.1 million of sublicense fees triggered by the IND for the EGFR product and the dosing of the first
patient of the EGFR program under the Amgen Agreement. In 2023, the Company incurred $0.2 million of sublicense fees triggered
by achieving the clinical candidate milestone under the Astellas Agreement.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred sublicense expenses of $1.1 million and $1.0 million,
respectively, under the provisions of the UCSB Agreement.
ImmunoGen (acquired by AbbVie in 2024)
In December 2019, the Company entered into a License Agreement (the “ImmunoGen 2019 License”) with ImmunoGen, Inc. to
obtain an exclusive license with respect to epithelial cell adhesion molecule (“EPCAM”). Under the ImmunoGen 2019 License,
ImmunoGen agreed to transfer its know-how, patents, intellectual property rights, and technology transfer materials and information
related to its EpCAM program. The license gives the Company the sole ability to develop, manufacture, use and commercialize any
licensed product that incorporates, is comprised of, or otherwise derived from PROBODY technology that targets EpCAM in any
human therapeutic field on a worldwide basis. In exchange, the Company made an upfront license payment of $7.5 million, and will
108
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
pay up to $35.0 million in certain clinical development milestones and up to $320.0 million in regulatory approval and commercial
milestone payments, if achieved. ImmunoGen is also entitled to royalties on product sales ranging from the mid-to-high single digits
percentages.
Seattle Genetics, Inc ("SGEN")
In August 22, 2023, the Company entered into a Transition Agreement (the “Transition Agreement”) with AbbVie Global Enterprises
Ltd. (“AbbVie”), pursuant to which the Company regained exclusive worldwide rights to develop CX-2029, a CD71-targeting
conditionally activated antibody drug conjugate. The Transition Agreement supersedes the CD71 Co-Development and License
Agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) entered into between the Company and AbbVie Ireland Unlimited Company (an affiliate
entity of AbbVie) in 2016, that was terminated in May 2023, and grants certain intellectual property rights from AbbVie to enable the
continued development of CX-2029 by Company for all human and nonhuman diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic uses.
Pursuant to the Transition Agreement, AbbVie is eligible to receive tiered sales royalties for CX-2029 ranging from the low-to-mid
single digit percentages. CytomX will also pay SGEN potential future development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, and tiered
sales royalties ranging from the mid-to-high single digits percentages related to certain CX-2029 linker payload technology licensed
from SGEN. The Company’s royalty obligations for a particular CX-2029 product sold in any country shall continue until the later of
(i) the date on which such CX-2029 product is no longer covered by certain patent rights in such country, (ii) the loss of regulatory
exclusivity for such CX-2029 product in such country, or (iii) the tenth anniversary of the first commercial sale for such CX-2029
product in such country. Pursuant to the Transition Agreement, the Company will pay an annual exclusive license maintenance fee of
$0.3 million starting 2023 through the date on which licensee receives first regulatory approval in the territory for the applicable
licensed product.
The Transition Agreement will continue in effect on a country-by-country basis until the expiration of the obligation to make
payments under the Transition Agreement with respect to CX-2029 in each country, unless earlier terminated by either party pursuant
to its terms. Either the Company or AbbVie may terminate the Transition Agreement for the other party’s insolvency or certain
uncured breaches; the Company may terminate the Transition Agreement without cause; and AbbVie may terminate the Transition
Agreement if the Company or any of its sublicensees or affiliates challenge certain SGEN patents.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred sublicense expenses of $0.3 million under the provisions of the
Transition Agreement.
10. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
On March 4, 2020, Vytacera Bio, LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the
District of Delaware. The lawsuit alleges that the Company's use, offers to sell, and/or sales of the PROBODY® technology platform
for basic research applications constitutes infringement. The complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages. In September 2022, the
Company filed a motion to dismiss the case and the Court granted the parties’ stipulation to stay all pending case deadlines until that
motion is finally resolved. On October 30, 2023, Magistrate Judge Burke issued a Report & Recommendation that recommended
granting Company’s motion to dismiss all counts of the complaint. In January 2024, the case was transferred to a new judge and the
case will remain stayed pending a ruling by the trial judge on the Magistrate’s Report & Recommendation. The Company believes that
the lawsuit is without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself. The Company does not believe a loss is probable and has not
recorded any amount as a contingent liability for claims associated with this lawsuit as of December 31, 2023.
Indemnifications
In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into agreements that may include indemnification provisions. Pursuant to such
agreements, the Company may indemnify, hold harmless and defend an indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the
indemnified party. Some of the provisions will limit losses to those arising from third party actions. In some cases, the indemnification
will continue after the termination of the agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be
required to make under these provisions is not determinable. The Company has never incurred material costs to defend lawsuits or
settle claims related to these indemnification provisions. The Company has also entered into indemnification agreements with its
directors and officers that may require the Company 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 Delaware corporate law. The Company currently has
directors’ and officers’ insurance.
109
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
11. Leases
Operating Lease
In December 2015, the Company entered into a lease (the “2016 Lease”) of office and laboratory space located in South San
Francisco, California for the Company’s corporate headquarters. The 2016 Lease has an initial term of ten years through 2026 and the
Company has an option to extend the initial term for an additional five years at the then fair rental value as determined pursuant to the
2016 Lease.
In addition, the Company obtained a standby letter of credit (the “Letter of Credit”) in an amount of approximately $0.9 million,
which may be drawn by the Landlord to be applied for certain purposes upon the Company’s breach of any provisions under the 2016
Lease. The Company recorded the $0.9 million of cash securing the Letter of Credit as non-current restricted cash on its balance sheet
as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Rent expense during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $5.1 million and $5.1
million, respectively.
Supplemental information related to leases are as follows:
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
Operating cash flows from operating leases
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)
Operating lease
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating lease
Maturity of operating lease liabilities
2024
2025
2026
Total lease payments
Less imputed interest
Present value of lease liabilities
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
Year Ended
(in thousands)
$
5,420
$
5,273
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
(in thousands)
2.75
8.25%
3.75
8.25%
December 31, 2023
(in thousands)
5,572
5,729
4,387
15,688
(1,714)
13,974
In March 2023, the Company entered into a sublease agreement for a portion of its existing office and laboratory space. The sublease
is classified as an operating lease whereby sublease income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the sublease term that expires on
September 30, 2026. For the year ended December 31, 2023, sublease income was $0.9 million.
Future sublease income payments
2024
2025
2026
Total sublease income payments
December 31, 2023
(in thousands)
1,333
1,379
1,067
3,779
$
110
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
12. Common Stock
In June 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with BVF Partners L.P. (“BVF”) for a private placement and received an
aggregate net proceeds of approximately $29.7 million in July 2023, after deducting issuance costs of approximately $0.3 million. In
the private placement, CytomX issued pre-funded warrants to BVF to purchase up to 14,423,077 shares of common stock,
accompanying Tranche 1 warrants to purchase up to 5,769,231 shares of common stock and accompanying Tranche 2 warrants to
purchase up to 5,769,231 shares of common stock, at a combined price of $2.08 per share.
The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2023:
Pre-funded Warrants
Tranche 1 Warrants
Tranche 2 Warrants
Number of
warrants
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
Number of
warrants
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
Number of
warrants
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
Warrants Outstanding
14,423,077
$
0.00001
5,769,231
$
4.16
5,769,231
$
6.24
The pre-funded warrants will expire in July 2043, while Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 warrants will expire in July 2025 and July 2026,
respectively.
13. Stock-based Compensation
The 2010 Plan and 2011 Plan
In 2010, the Company adopted its 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”) which provided for the granting of stock options to
employees, directors and consultants of the Company. Options granted under the 2010 Plan were either incentive stock options
(“ISOs”) or nonqualified stock options (“NSOs”).
In February 2012, the Company adopted its 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”). The 2011 Plan is divided into two separate
equity programs, an option and stock appreciation rights grant program and a stock award program. In conjunction with adopting the
2011 Plan, the Company discontinued the 2010 Plan and released the shares reserved and still available under that plan.
In connection with the consummation of the IPO in October 2015, the board of directors adopted the Company’s 2015 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan” and collectively with the 2010 Plan and 2011 Plan, the “Plans”). In conjunction with adopting the
2015 Plan, the Company discontinued the 2011 Plan with respect to new equity awards.
The 2015 Plan
The 2015 Plan authorized the board of directors to grant incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options and RSUs to employees,
directors, non-employee directors and consultants of the Company. Stock options under the 2015 Plan may be granted for periods of
up to ten years. All stock options issued to date have had a 10-year life. Under the terms of the 2015 Plan, stock options may be
granted at an exercise price not less than the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, as determined
by the Company’s board of directors. For employees holding more than 10% of the voting rights of all classes of stock, the exercise
price of ISOs and NSOs may not be less than 110% of the estimated fair value of the shares on the date of grant, as determined by the
board of directors. To date, stock options granted under the 2015 Plan generally vest over four years and vest at a rate of 25% upon the
first anniversary of the issuance date and 1/48th per month thereafter.
The initial number of shares of common stock available for future issuance under the 2015 Plan was 2,444,735. Beginning on January
1, 2016 and continuing until the expiration of the 2015 Plan, the total number of shares of common stock available for issuance under
the 2015 Plan will automatically increase annually on January 1 by 4% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of
common stock as of January 1 of the same year. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, 2,944,245 shares and 1,932,345 shares of
common stock, respectively, were available for future issuance under the 2015 Plan.
111
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
The 2019 Plan
In September 2019, the Board of Directors adopted the 2019 Employment Inducement Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”) which
provides for the grant of stock options and other equity awards to any employee who has not previously been an employee or director
of the Company or who is commencing employment with the Company following a bona fide period of nonemployment by the
Company. Awards granted under the 2019 Plan are intended to constitute “employment inducement awards” under Nasdaq Listing
Rule 5635(c)(4). Options granted under the 2019 Plan are nonqualified stock options (“NSOs”) which may be exercisable for periods
of up to ten years and the options shall be granted at an exercise price of not less than 100% of the fair market value of the Company’s
common stock on the date of grant.
The initial number of shares of common stock available for future issuance under the 2019 Plan was 1,815,000. During 2021, the total
number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2019 Plan has increased by 1,000,000 shares. As of December 31,
2023 and 2022, 1,725,656 and 1,120,740 shares, respectively, of common stock were available for future issuance under the 2019
Plan.
The following table summarizes the Company's stock option activities:
Balances at December 31, 2022
Options granted
Options exercised
Options cancelled
Balances at December 31, 2023
Options Exercisable—December 31, 2023
Options Outstanding
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
7.67
2.20
1.57
5.95
7.16
9.03
$
$
$
6.51
5.52
5.0
70.5
4.7
Number of
Shares
13,289,838
1,938,573
(16,535)
(2,262,264)
12,949,612
8,672,013
$
$
The aggregate intrinsic values of options exercised, outstanding and exercisable were calculated as the difference between the exercise
price of the options and the quoted market price of the underlying common stock as of December 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2023, the unrecognized compensation expense with respect to options granted was $8.2 million and is expected to
be recognized over 2.23 years.
Time-based RSUs ("TRSU")
The following table summarizes the Company's TRSU activities:
Balance at December 31, 2022
RSUs awarded
RSUs vested
RSUs cancelled
Balance at December 31, 2023
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Share
$
0.94
$
2,171
$
2.81
2.30
3.16
3.41
2.40
Number of
Shares
1,212,884
724,342
(439,329)
(97,368)
1,400,529
The Company recorded $2.0 million and $1.2 million of stock-based compensation expense related to the TRSUs for the year ended
December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the unrecognized compensation expense with respect to the
TRSUs was $2.1 million which is expected to be recognized over 1.66 years. The TSRUs generally vest ratably over two to four years.
112
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Performance-based RSUs ("PSU")
In October 2021, the Company granted 435,000 PSUs to executive employees with an aggregated grant date fair value of $2.3 million.
Vesting for 50% of the PSUs granted will occur upon achievement of certain specific milestones within one year of the grant date
("2021-Tranche 1") and the remaining 50% will vest upon achievement of additional company objectives within two years of the grant
date ("2021-Tranche 2").
In July 2022, the Company determined that the performance condition for 2021-Tranche 1 was met and recorded $1.0 million of
stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2022. In September 2023, the performance condition for 2021-
Tranche 2 was modified and the award was vested in in September 2023. As a result, the Company recorded $0.1 million of stock-
based compensation expense for 2021-Tranche 2 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.
In August 2022, the Company granted 250,000 PSUs to executive employees with an aggregated grant date fair value of
approximately $0.4 million. Vesting for 50% of the PSUs granted will occur upon attaining certain specific milestones by December
2023 (“2022-Tranche 1”), and the remaining 50% will vest upon attaining certain specific milestones by December 2024 (“2022-
Tranche 2”). In December 2023, the Company determined that the performance conditions for 2022-Tranche 1 was satisfied and the
award was vested in December 2023. As a result, the Company recorded the remaining $128,000 compensation cost for the Tranche 1
award for the year ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded $55,000 compensation
cost for the Tranche-1 award. As of December 31, 2023, the Company determined that it is probable that the performance conditions
for 2022-Tranche 2 will be satisfied and recorded $106,000 compensation cost for the award 2023.
In February 2023, the Company granted 760,000 PSUs to executive employees with an aggregated grant date fair value of
approximately $1.9 million. Vesting for 50% of the PSUs granted will occur upon attaining certain specific milestones by December
2024 (“2023-Tranche 1”), and the remaining 50% will vest upon attaining certain specific milestones by December 2025 (“2023-
Tranche 2”). The Company determined that it is not probable that the performance conditions will be satisfied for each of these
tranches and no compensation cost was recorded for these awards through December 31, 2023.
The following table summarizes the Company's PSU activities:
Balance at December 31, 2022
PSUs awarded
PSUs vested
PSUs cancelled
Balance at December 31, 2023
Number of
Shares
383,750
760,000
(220,000)
(48,750)
875,000
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share
$
$
1,356
$
2.96
2.54
3.38
4.28
2.41
As of December 31, 2023, the unrecognized compensation expense with respect to PSUs granted was $2.0 million and is expected to
be recognized over 1.43 years.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Concurrent with the completion of the IPO in October 2015, the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) became
effective. The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at a discount through payroll
deductions of up to 15% of their eligible compensation, subject to any plan limitations. The ESPP generally provides for six-month
offering periods, and at the end of each offering period, employees are able to purchase shares at 85% of the lower of the fair market
value of the Company’s common stock on the first trading day of the offering period or on the last trading day of the offering period.
The Company issued 406,928 and 405,192 shares of common stock under the ESPP in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Shares available for future purchase under the ESPP were 939,698 shares and 1,346,626 shares at December 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively. The compensation expense related to the ESPP was $0.3 million, $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023
and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, there was $0.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the ESPP,
which the Company expects to recognize over 5 months.
113
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Stock Based Compensation
Total stock-based compensation recorded related to stock options, TRSUs, PSUs and the ESPP was as follows (in thousands):
Research and development
General and administrative
Total stock-based compensation expense
Fair Value Assumptions:
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
2,921
5,637
8,558
$
$
5,544
7,581
13,125
$
$
The Company estimated the fair value of employee stock options and ESPP using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on the
date of grant with the following weighted average assumptions:
Expected volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Dividend yield
Expected term
(in years)
Weighted average fair value
per share
14. Income Taxes
Options
ESPP
Year Ended December 31,
Year Ended December 31,
2023
84%
4.2%
—
2022
77%
2.4%
—
2023
70%
5.4%
—
2022
95%
2.9%
—
5.1
4.6
0.5
$
1.52 $
1.77
$
0.55 $
0.5
0.67
The Company derives its income only from the United States. The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows (in
thousands):
Current:
Federal
State
Total current
Deferred:
Federal
State
Total deferred
Provision for income taxes
Years Ended December 31,
2023
2022
$
$
— $
3,892
3,892
—
—
—
3,892
$
A reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rate to the statutory U.S. federal rate is as follows:
U.S. federal taxes at statutory rate
State tax, net of federal benefit
Stock compensation
Tax credits
Change in valuation allowance
162(m) limitation
Other
Total
114
Years Ended December 31,
2023
2022
21.0%
(478.7)
47.2
242.7
283.2
1.2
0.5
117.1%
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
21.0%
1.7
(2.1)
2.4
(22.8)
(0.2)
-
0.0%
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
The types of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities are
set out below (in thousands):
Net operating loss carryforwards
Research and development credits
Lease liability
Intangible assets
Deferred revenue
Accrued liabilities
Stock-based compensation
Sec 174 capitalized research and development costs
Other
Total gross deferred income tax assets
Less: valuation allowance
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
Fixed assets
Right-of-use assets
Prepaid expenses
Deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred income tax liabilities
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
$
$
56,767
22,149
3,501
4,400
47,286
2,425
9,600
32,630
55
178,813
(175,454)
3,359
(105)
(3,061)
(193)
(3,359)
$
— $
58,193
24,700
3,802
3,708
49,919
1,504
8,066
19,709
31
169,632
(166,037)
3,595
(43)
(3,358)
(194)
(3,595)
—
The Company has established a valuation allowance against all of its net deferred tax assets. Management considered all available
evidence, both positive and negative, including but not limited to our historical operating results, income or loss in recent periods,
cumulative losses in recent years, forecasted earnings, future taxable income, and significant risk and uncertainty related to forecasts,
and concluded the deferred tax assets are not more likely than not to be realized. The net change in the total valuation allowance for
the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was an increase of $9.4 million and $22.7 million, respectively.
The Company had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $269.7 million and
$26.7 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023, available to reduce future taxable income. Of the federal net operating loss
carryforwards, $65.6 million will begin to expire in 2034, if not utilized and $204.1 million will carryforward indefinitely. The state
net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2031, if not utilized.
The Company also has federal and state research and development tax credits carryforwards of $24.4 million and $13.7 million,
respectively, as of December 31, 2023 available to reduce future income taxes. The federal research and development tax credits will
begin to expire in 2031 if not utilized. The state research and development tax credits will carryforward indefinitely.
Internal Revenue Code section 382 (“IRC Section 382”) places a limitation (the “Section 382 Limitation”) on the amount of taxable
income that can be offset by net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards after a change in control (generally greater than 50% change in
ownership) of a loss corporation. California has similar rules. The Company has performed an IRC Section 382 analysis and
determined there was an ownership change in 2017 that resulted in 382 limitations. When an ownership change occurs, IRC Section
382 limits the use of NOLs and credits in subsequent periods based on the annual 382 limitations. The annual 382 limitations may
limit the full use of available tax attributes in one year but the identified ownership changes may not result in expiration of tax
attributes for use prior to expiration of their respective carryforward periods. Accordingly, none of the tax attributes have been
reduced but limited the full use in 2018. The Company has determined that, while an ownership change has occurred, the applicable
limits would not impair the value or anticipated use of the Company’s federal and state net operating losses. Although realization is
not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that any limitation under IRC Section 382 will not impair the realizability
of the deferred income tax assets related to federal and state net operating loss carryforwards. The Company updated its Section 382
analysis through the year ended December 31, 2023 and concluded no ownership changes occurred in current year which would result
in a reduction of its net operating loss or in its research and development credits expiring unused. If additional ownership change
occurs, the utilization of net operating loss and credit carryforwards could be significantly reduced.
115
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefit amount is as follows (in thousands):
CYTOMX THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
Balance at the beginning of the year
Additions based on tax positions related to current year
Adjustment based on tax positions related to prior years
Balance at end of the year
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
$
$
9,269
527
9,581
19,377
$
$
7,780
1,391
98
9,269
Of the unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately $2.3 million would affect the Company’s
effective tax rate if recognized. Penalties and interest of $1.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively, have been accrued for the year
ended December 31, 2023.
The Company files income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, the state of California and various other U.S. states. The state of
California contested the Company’s tax position on revenue apportionment for upfront and milestone payments resulting from the
Company’s collaboration and licensing agreements for the years 2017 and 2018. In September 2023, the Company received Notice of
Proposed Assessment (“NOPA”) from the Franchise Tax Board. The Company recorded an uncertain tax position of $3.9 million in
long term liabilities for the proposed tax assessment, penalties and interest through December 31, 2023. Additional utilization of
carryforward attributes and indirect federal tax effects of the assessment would result in a reduction in deferred tax assets of $5.1
million. The Company filed a protest to contest the proposed assessment in November 2023. Due to the ongoing nature of the
examination and discussions with the state of California, the Company is unable to estimate a date by which this matter will be
resolved.
15. Defined Contribution Plan
The Company sponsors a defined contribution plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code covering substantially all full-
time U.S. employees. Employee contributions are voluntary and are determined on an individual basis subject to the maximum
allowable under federal tax regulations. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company made contributions to the
plan of $0.5 million, $0.9 million, respectively.
16. Restructuring
On July 13, 2022, the Company announced a restructuring plan to prioritize its resources on its emerging pre-clinical and early clinical
pipeline as well as its existing collaboration partnerships. The restructuring plan resulted in a reduction to its workforce of
approximately 40%. Restructuring costs of $2.4 million and $5.1 million were recorded in general and administrative expense and
research and development expense, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022. The restructuring was complete in the third
quarter of 2023.
The following is a summary of accrued restructuring costs as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Severance and Benefits
Costs
Contract Termination
Cost
Total
Balance at December 31, 2022
Cash payment
Change in estimates
Balance at December 31, 2023
1,512
(1,457)
(55)
— $
164
(50)
(114)
— $
1,676
(1,507)
(169)
—
$
116
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”) refers to controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without
limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files
or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its Principal Executive
and Principal Financial Officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that any controls and
procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and our
management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our
disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
Our management, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, has evaluated the
effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023, the end of the period covered by this Annual Report
on Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation, the Company's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that, as
of December 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined
in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of
our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in
accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or
timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and
the preparation of financial statements prepared for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
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.
Our management, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of
the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework
(2013 framework) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation
under the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework, the Company's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial
Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2023, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
Remediation of Material Weakness
In connection with preparing our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2022 and evaluating new collaboration and
license agreements initiated in the fourth quarter of 2022, we re-evaluated our previous application of ASC 606 for our collaboration
and license agreements and identified an error. Upon reassessment, we have determined that certain revenue should be recognized
over time using an input method as an appropriate measure of progress, rather than ratably over the estimated research period. The
Company’s internal control to perform a technical accounting analysis for collaboration and license agreements failed to operate as
designed. As a result, we concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31,
2022. The Company identified a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting related to its application of ASC 606
for license and collaboration agreements.
117
To remediate this material weakness, during the six months ended June 30, 2023, we have implemented and improved the operation of
our controls related to the application of ASC 606 to our collaboration and license agreements and the related controls to measure the
progress in satisfying the performance obligations. Management has determined that the material weakness was remediated during the
three months ended June 30, 2023, due to enhancements made to our related technical accounting analysis processes and internal
controls during the period.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange
Act) that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2023, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information
(a). On March 6, 2024, following a Bristol Myers Squibb corporate portfolio prioritization process, Bristol Myers Squibb
notified CytomX that it does not intend to continue the development of BMS-986288 beyond the current Phase 2 study
and terminated its work on the CTLA-4 target under the collaboration. CytomX’s ongoing research collaboration with
Bristol Myers Squibb, which includes multiple ongoing preclinical programs, including T-cell engagers, will continue.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections
None.
118
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
PART III
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Company’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days after the Company’s fiscal year end and is incorporated herein by reference.
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all employees, including our Principal Executive Officer,
Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer or Controller, or persons performing similar functions. The code of business
conduct and ethics is available on our website at www.cytomx.com. Amendments to, and waivers from, the code of business conduct
and ethics that apply to any director, executive officer or persons performing similar functions will be disclosed at the website address
provided above and, to the extent required by applicable regulations, on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Company’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days after the Company’s fiscal year end and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Company’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days after the Company’s fiscal year end and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Company’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days after the Company’s fiscal year end and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item will be set forth in the Company’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days after the Company’s fiscal year end and is incorporated herein by reference.
119
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(1)
Financial Statements:
PART IV
The financial statements required by Item 15(a) are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 8 “Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data.”
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
The financial statement schedules required by Item 15(a) are omitted because they are not applicable, not required or the required
information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto as filed in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(3)
Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
1.1
Exhibit Description
Form
Date
Number
Filed
Herewith
Incorporated by Reference
Open Market Sale Agreement, dated as of February 27, 2020, by and between
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Jefferies LLC.
10-K 2/27/2020
1.1
3.1(a)
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
8-K 10/19/2015
3.1
3.1(b)
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
of CytomX Therapeutics, Inc.
8-K 6/23/2020
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
Amended and Restated Bylaws.
8-K 10/19/2015
3.2
Reference is made to exhibits 3.1 through 3.2.
Specimen Common Stock Certificate.
S-1/A 9/28/2015
4.1
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 29, 2017 by and between
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Amgen, Inc.
10-Q 11/7/2017
4.4
Description of Registrant’s Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Form of Pre-Funded Warrant
Form of Tranche Warrant
10-Q 8/6/2020
8-K
7/3/2023
8-K
7/3/2023
4.4
4.1
4.2
10.1(a)#
2010 Stock Incentive Plan adopted on September 21, 2010 (“2010 Plan”).
S-1
8/28/2015
10.3
10.1(b)#
Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2010 Plan.
S-1
8/28/2015
10.4
10.2(a)#
10.2(b)#
2011 Stock Incentive Plan, adopted on February 7, 2012, as amended (“2011
Plan”).
S-1
8/28/2015
10.1
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Option Exercise Agreement
under the 2011 Plan.
S-1
8/28/2015
10.2
10.3(a)#
2015 Equity Incentive Plan (“2015 Plan”).
S-1/A 10/6/2015
10.5
10.3(b)#
Form of 2015 Plan Option Agreement under the 2015 Plan.
10-Q 11/23/2015
10.4
10.3(c)#
Form of 2015 Plan Early Exercise Option Agreement
10-Q 11/23/2015
10.5
120
10.3(d)#
Form of 2015 Plan Restricted Share Unit Award Grant Notice and Agreement
10-K 3/21/2022
10.3(d)
10.4(a)#
2019 Employment Inducement Incentive Plan adopted on September 18, 2019
(“2019 Plan”).
10-Q 11/7/2019
10.1
10.4(b)#
Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2019 Plan.
10-Q 11/7/2019
10.2
10.5#
10.6#
10.7#
10.8#
10.9#
10.10#
10.11#
2015 CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
S-1/A 9/28/2015
10.6
Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc.
and each of its directors and each of its executive officers.
S-1
8/28/2015
10.16
Employment Offer Letter Agreement between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and
Sean A. McCarthy, D. Phil, dated as of December 15, 2010.
S-1
8/28/2015
10.7
Employment Offer Letter Agreement between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and
Jeffrey Landau dated as of March 31, 2021.
10-Q 8/8/2023
10.3
Amended and Restated Severance and Change of Control Agreement dated
February 27, 2019, by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Sean
McCarthy. D. Phil.
10-Q 5/9/2019
10.1
Amended and Restated Severance and Change of Control Agreement dated
March 25, 2019, by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Lloyd
Rowland.
10-Q 5/9/2019
10.2
Form of Amended and Restated Severance and Change of Control Agreement by
and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and each of its executive officers other
than Sean A. McCarthy.
10-Q 8/8/2023
10.2
10.12(a)
Lease dated as of December 10, 2015, by and between CytomX Therapeutics,
Inc. and HCP Oyster Point III LLC.
8-K 12/16/2015
10.1
10.12(b)
Sublease Agreement dated as of March 24, 2023, by and between CytomX
Therapeutics, Inc and Atomic AI, Inc.
10-Q 5/9/2023
10.1
10.13(a)
Exclusive License Agreement dated as of August 19, 2010, by and between The
Regents of the University of California and CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., as
amended by Amendment No. 1 to Exclusive Agreement effective as of May 30,
2013 and Amendment No. 2 to Exclusive Agreement effective as of November
8, 2013.
S-1/A 9/18/2015
10.21
10.13(b)†† Amendment No.3 to Exclusive License Agreement effective as of April 2, 2019,
by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and The Regents of the University of
California.
10-Q 5/9/2019
10.6
10.14(a)† Collaboration and License Agreement dated as of May 23, 2014, by and between
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Bristol Myers Squibb Company.
10-Q 11/5/2020
10.2
10.14(b)† Amendment to Extend Collaboration and License Agreement, dated March 17,
2017, by and between the Company and Bristol Myers Squibb.
10-Q 5/5/2017
10.1
121
10.14(c)† Amendment No 2 to Collaboration and License Agreement, as amended, dated
March 17, 2017, by and between the Company and Bristol Myers Squibb,
effective as of February 22, 2021.
10-Q 5/6/2021
10.2
10.14(d)† Amendment No 3 to Collaboration and License Agreement, dated May 23, 2014,
by and between the Company and Bristol Myers Squibb Company, effective as
of October 11, 2022.
10-Q 11/8/2022
10.6
10.15(a)† Co-Development and License Agreement, dated April 21, 2016, by and between
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and AbbVie Ireland Unlimited Company.
10-Q 8/3/2016
10.1
10.15(b)† First Amendment to the CD71 Co-Development and License Agreement by and
between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and AbbVie Ireland Unlimited Company,
dated as of October 5, 2016.
10-Q 11/6/2018
10.1
10.15(c)†
Second Amendment to the CD71 Co-Development and License Agreement by
and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and AbbVie Ireland Unlimited
Company, effective as of March 31, 2017.
10-Q 11/6/2018
10.2
10.15(d)† Third Amendment to the CD71 Co-Development and License Agreement by and
between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and AbbVie Ireland Unlimited Company,
effective as of January 3, 2018.
10-Q 11/6/2018
10.3
10.15(e)† Amended and Restated Discovery Collaboration and License Agreement, dated
as of June 28, 2019, by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., and AbbVie
Ireland Unlimited Company.
10-Q 8/7/2019
10.1
10.15(f)†† Transition Agreement effective as of August 22, 2023 by and between CytomX
Therapeutics, Inc., and AbbVie Global Enterprises Ltd.
10-Q 11/7/2023
10.1
10.16(a)†† Collaboration and License Agreement by and between CytomX Therapeutics,
Inc. and Amgen, Inc. dated as of September 29, 2017.
10-Q 11/7/2017
10.1
10.16(b)† Amendment No. 1 to the Collaboration and License Agreement, dated as of
September 29, 2020, by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Amgen,
Inc.
10-Q 11/5/2020
10.3
10.16(c)†† Amendment No. 2 to the Collaboration and License Agreement, dated as of
October 27, 2021, by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Amgen, Inc.
10-Q 11/5/2020
10.3
10.16(d)†† Amendment No. 3 to the Collaboration and License Agreement, dated as of May
18, 2023, by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Amgen, Inc.
10-Q 8/8/2023
10.1
10.17††
Collaboration and License Agreement dated as of March 23, 2020, by and
between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc.
10-Q 5/7/2020
10.4
10.18(a)† Research Collaboration Agreement dated as of January 8, 2014, by and between
ImmunoGen, Inc. and CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., as amended by the First
Amendment to Research Collaboration Agreement effective as of April 3, 2015.
S-1/A 10/2/2015
10.17
10.18(b)† Second Amendment to the Research Collaboration Agreement by and between
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and ImmunoGen Inc., dated as of February 12, 2016
10-Q 11/6/2018
10.5
10.18(c)† Third Amendment to the Research Collaboration Agreement by and between
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and ImmunoGen Inc., dated as of March 3, 2017.
10-Q 11/6/2018
10.6
122
10.19†
License Agreement by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and ImmunoGen
Inc., dated as of February 12, 2016.
10-Q 11/6/2018
10.4
10.20††
Collaboration and License Agreement dated as of November 16, 2022 by and
between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
10-K 3/27/2023
10.24
10.21††
Collaboration and License Agreement dated as of December 30, 2022 by and
between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and ModernaTX, Inc.
10-K 3/27/2023
10.25
10.22#†† Consulting Agreement effective as of December 14, 2020, by and between
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc and Dr. W. Michael Kavanaugh.
10-K 2/24/2021
10.24
10.23#
10.24#
10.25
10.26
10.27
19.1
23.1
24.1
31.1
31.2
Retirement Agreement by and between CytomX Therapeutics, Inc and Dr. W.
Michael Kavanaugh, dated as of December 1, 2020.
10-K 2/24/2021
10.25
Consulting Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2021, by and between CytomX
Therapeutics, Inc. and Dr. Charles Fuchs.
10-Q 5/6/2021
10.3
Consulting Agreement effective as of October 1, 2022, by and between CytomX
Therapeutics, Inc. and Carlos Campoy.
10-Q 11/8/2022
10.1
Consulting Agreement effective as of September 13, 2022, by and between
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and Amy C. Peterson, M.D.
10-Q 11/8/2022
10.2
Unit Purchase Agreement by and among the CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. and
certain accredited investors named therein, dated June 29, 2023.
8-K
7/3/2023
10.1
Corporate Securities Trading Policy
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
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.
32.1**
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97.1
Executive Compensation Clawback Policy
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the
Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline
XBRL document
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
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X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in
Exhibit 101)
X
† Confidential treatment has been granted for certain information contained in this exhibit. Such information has been omitted and filed separately
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
†† Certain confidential portions of this exhibit have been omitted from this exhibit.
# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
** The certifications attached as Exhibit 32.1 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 CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. 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.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
Registrants may voluntarily include a summary of information required by Form 10-K under Item 16. We have elected not to include
such summary.
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Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
Date: March 11, 2024
CytomX Therapeutics, Inc.
By:
Name:
Title:
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Sean A. McCarthy
Sean A. McCarthy, D.Phil.
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Christopher W. Ogden
Christopher W. Ogden
Senior Vice President, Finance and
Accounting
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Sean A. McCarthy, D. Phil. and Lloyd
Rowland and each of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent
to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity
stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact
and agents or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
/s/ Sean A. McCarthy
Sean A. McCarthy, D.Phil.
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Matthew P. Young
Matthew P. Young
/s/ Alan Ashworth
Alan Ashworth, Ph.D. FRS
/s/ Elaine V. Jones
Elaine V. Jones, Ph.D.
/s/ James R. Meyers
James R. Meyers
/s/ Mani Mohindru
Mani Mohindru, Ph.D.
/s/ Halley E. Gilbert
Halley E. Gilbert
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
126