Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc. (GLUE) FY 2024 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those described in the section titled “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements.” Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Overview
We are a biotechnology company developing a portfolio of novel and proprietary MGDs. MGDs are small molecule drugs that employ the body’s natural protein destruction mechanisms to selectively degrade therapeutically relevant proteins. MGDs work by inducing the engagement of defined surfaces identified on target proteins by an E3 ligase, such as cereblon. We have developed a proprietary and industry-leading protein degradation discovery engine, called QuEENTM, to enable our unique, target-centric, MGD discovery and development process and our rational design of MGD products. We believe our small molecule MGDs may give us significant advantages over existing therapeutic modalities, including other protein degradation approaches. We prioritize our product development on therapeutic targets backed by strong biological and genetic rationale with the goal of discovering and developing novel medicines.
Monte Rosa Therapeutics AG, a Swiss operating company, was incorporated under the laws of Switzerland in April 2018. Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in November 2019. In 2020, through a common control reorganization, Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc. acquired the net assets and shareholding of Monte Rosa Therapeutics AG. Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc. includes wholly owned subsidiaries Monte Rosa Therapeutics AG and Monte Rosa Securities Corporation. We are headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with research operations in both Boston and Basel, Switzerland.
Liquidity
To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the issuance and sale of convertible promissory notes, convertible preferred stock, public offerings of our common stock or warrants to purchase common stock, registered direct offerings, and through our collaboration agreements. From our inception through the date hereof, we raised an aggregate of $834.8 million of gross proceeds from such transactions. Since inception, we have had significant operating losses. Our primary use of cash is to fund operating expenses, which consist primarily of research and development expenditures and, to a lesser extent, general and administrative expenditures. Our net loss was $72.7 million and $135.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $438.6 million and $377.0 million of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities.
Impact of global economic and political developments
The development of our product candidates could be disrupted and materially adversely affected in the future by global economic or political developments. In addition, economic uncertainty in global markets caused by political instability and conflict, and economic challenges caused by global pandemics or other public health events, may lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital market instability and supply chain interruptions. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by negative impacts on the global economy and capital markets resulting from these global economic conditions, particularly if such conditions are prolonged or worsen.
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Components of operating results
Collaboration revenue
Collaboration revenue represents amounts earned from our collaboration and license agreements with Roche and Novartis. We expect that our revenue for the next several years will be dervied primarily through our current collaboration and license agreements and any additional collaborations that we may enter into in the future.
Roche agreement
On October 16, 2023, Monte Rosa AG entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with Roche Basel and Roche US, and together with Roche Basel, Roche, or the “Roche Agreement”. Pursuant to the Roche Agreement, the parties will seek to identify and MGDs against cancer or neurological disease targets using our proprietary drug discovery platform for an initial set of targets in oncology and neuroscience selected by Roche, with Roche having an option to expand the collaboration with an additional set of targets under certain conditions, each target being subject to certain substitution rights owned by Roche. We will lead preclinical discovery and research activities until a defined point. Upon such point, Roche gains the right to exclusively pursue further preclinical and clinical development activities.
Under the Agreement, Roche will have a worldwide, exclusive license under patents and know-how controlled by us to develop and commercialize products directed to applicable targets. The research collaboration activities governed by the Agreement will be overseen by a joint research committee.
Under the terms of the agreement, we received an upfront payment of $50 million, and are eligible to receive future preclinical, clinical, commercial and sales milestone payments that could exceed $2 billion, including up to $172 million for achieving preclinical milestones. Roche has an option to expand the collaboration with an additional set of targets under certain conditions. For the optional additional targets, we are entitled to receive from Roche an upfront payment of up to $28 million, and potential preclinical, clinical, commercial, and sales milestones exceeding $1 billion. We are also eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging from high-single-digit percent to low-teens percent on any products that are commercialized by Roche as a result of the collaboration.
Unless earlier terminated, the Agreement will remain in effect for each product licensed under the Agreement until expiration of the royalty term for the applicable product. The parties have included customary termination provisions in the agreement, allowing termination of the Agreement in its entirety, on a country-by-country or a target-by-target basis.
Novartis agreement
On October 25, 2024, Monte Rosa AG and Novartis entered into a global exclusive development and commercialization license agreement, or the Novartis Agreement. Pursuant to the Novartis Agreement, we granted to Novartis an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable and transferable license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize VAV1 MGDs, including MRT-6160, which is currently in Phase 1 clinical development for immune-mediated conditions. We are responsible for completing the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study and Novartis is responsible for all subsequent development and commercial activities starting at Phase 2. Development and commercial activities governed by the Novartis Agreement will be overseen by a Development Committee and a Commercialization Committee.
Pursuant to the Novartis Agreement, we received from Novartis an upfront payment of $150 million, and are eligible to receive from Novartis (1) up to $2.1 billion in development, regulatory, and sales milestones, beginning upon initiation of Phase 2 studies including (a) potential development and regulatory milestone payments, exceeding $1.5 billion if multiple indications achieve regulatory approval in multiple territories, (b) potential sales milestones payments in connection with sales outside of the United States, and (2) tiered royalties on sales outside of the United States. We will continue to be responsible for costs associated with the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study and Novartis will be responsible for costs associated with any subsequent clinical studies. We and Novartis also agreed to a net profit and loss sharing arrangement, pursuant to which we will co-fund any global clinical development from Phase 3 onwards and will share 30% of any profits and losses associated with the manufacturing and commercialization of the licensed products in the United States. We have defined opportunities to opt out of the net profit and loss sharing arrangement, in such case, sales in the United States would be entitled to the potential sales milestones payments and tiered royalties on sales available outside of the United States. Any costs for any co-funded development and commercialization activities are subject to budgets reviewed by the Development Committee and Commercialization Committee, respectively. The Novartis Agreement includes customary termination provisions, including Novartis’ ability to terminate the Novartis Agreement in its entirety. On December 11, 2024, we announced the closing of the Novartis Agreement.
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Research and development expenses
Our research and development expenses include:
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expenses incurred under agreements with consultants, third-party service providers that conduct research and development activities on our behalf;
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personnel costs, which include salaries, benefits, pension and stock-based compensation;
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laboratory and vendor expenses related to the execution of preclinical and clinical studies;
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laboratory supplies and materials used for internal research and development activities; and
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facilities and equipment costs.
Most of our research and development expenses have been related to the development of our QuEENTM discovery engine and advancement of our GSPT1 and VAV1 programs, and advancement of our disclosed and undisclosed programs including for NEK7, CDK2, and CCNE1.
We expense all research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred. Costs for certain research and development activities are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information and data provided to us by our vendors and third-party service providers.
The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming, and the successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain. As a result, we are unable to determine the duration and completion costs of our research and development projects, the costs of related clinical development costs or when and to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates.
We expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in research and development activities related to developing our product candidates, including investments in manufacturing, as we advance our programs and conduct clinical trials. The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming, and the successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain. As a result, we are unable to determine the duration and completion costs of our research and development projects, the costs of related clinical development costs or when and to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel costs and other expenses for outside professional services, including legal fees relating to patent and corporate matters, professional fees for accounting, auditing, tax and administrative consulting services, insurance costs and other operating costs. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase over the next several years to support our continued research and development activities, manufacturing activities, and the potential commercialization of our product candidates and development of commercial infrastructure. We also anticipate our general and administrative costs will increase with respect to the hiring of additional personnel, fees to outside consultants, lawyers and accountants, and increased costs associated with being a public company, such as expenses related to services associated with maintaining compliance with Nasdaq listing rules and SEC reporting requirements, insurance and investor relations costs.
Non-operating income and expense
Our non-operating income and expense includes (i) interest earned on our investments, including principally marketable securities and cash; (ii) gains and losses on transactions of our Swiss subsidiary denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar; (iii) proceeds from the sale of fixed assets; and (iv) realized losses on the sale of marketable securities.
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Results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
The following sets forth our results of operations:
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | Dollar change | |||||||||
| Collaboration revenue | $ | 75,622 | $ | — | $ | 75,622 | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
| Research and development | 121,563 | 111,272 | 10,291 | |||||||||
| General and administrative | 35,171 | 32,039 | 3,132 | |||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 156,734 | 143,311 | 13,423 | |||||||||
| Loss from operations | (81,112 | ) | (143,311 | ) | 62,199 | |||||||
| Other income | 10,982 | 8,297 | 2,685 | |||||||||
| Net loss before income taxes | $ | (70,130 | ) | $ | (135,014 | ) | $ | 64,884 | ||||
| Provision for income taxes | (2,570 | ) | (338 | ) | (2,232 | ) | ||||||
| Net loss | $ | (72,700 | ) | $ | (135,352 | ) | $ | 62,652 |
Collaboration revenue
Collaboration revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $75.6 million, of which $34.0 million and $41.6 million were attributable to our license and collaboration agreements with Roche and Novartis, respectively. We did not recognize collaboration revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Research and development expenses
We use our personnel and infrastructure resources across the breadth of our research and development activities, which are directed toward identifying and developing product candidates. As such, we do not track all of our internal research and development expenses on a program-by-program basis. The following table summarizes our research and development expense for each period presented (program expenses are not separately included in the table below prior to the year they are disclosed):
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | Dollar change | |||||||||
| External research and development expense: | ||||||||||||
| MRT-2359 | $ | 12,332 | $ | — | $ | 12,332 | ||||||
| MRT-6160 | 15,209 | — | 15,209 | |||||||||
| NEK7 | 10,163 | — | 10,163 | |||||||||
| Other development and discovery programs | 14,432 | 46,404 | (31,972 | ) | ||||||||
| Compensation and related personnel expense | 39,796 | 37,570 | 2,226 | |||||||||
| Overhead and administrative expense | 29,631 | 27,298 | 2,333 | |||||||||
| Total research and development expense | $ | 121,563 | $ | 111,272 | $ | 10,291 |
As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, we had 105 employees engaged in research and development activities in our facilities in the U.S. and Switzerland.
Most of our research and development expenses were driven by the successful achievement of key development milestones in our research and development organization, including the continuation of the MRT-2359 clinical study, the advancement of MRT-6160 into the clinic, the progression of our preclinical pipeline including research performed for our collaboration with Roche, and the continued development of the Company’s QuEENTM discovery engine, and reflect increased personnel expense and external R&D costs to achieve these milestones. Research and development expenses included non-cash stock-based compensation of $10.6 million and $8.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses to support our business activities were comprised of:
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | Dollar change | |||||||||
| Personnel costs | $ | 22,153 | $ | 19,648 | $ | 2,505 | ||||||
| Professional services | 5,091 | 4,355 | 736 | |||||||||
| Facility costs and other expenses | 7,927 | 8,036 | (109 | ) | ||||||||
| Total general and administrative expenses | $ | 35,171 | $ | 32,039 | $ | 3,132 |
As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively, we had 29 and 28 employees engaged in general and administrative activities principally in our U.S. facility. Personnel and professional service costs increased in the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to 2023 as a result of increased headcount and expenses in support of our growth and operations as a public company. General and administrative expenses included non-cash stock-based compensation of $7.5 million and $7.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Other expenses, net
Other income (expense), net was comprised of:
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Interest income, net | $ | 10,566 | $ | 9,334 | ||||
| Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net | 416 | (930 | ) | |||||
| Gain on disposal of fixed assets | — | 24 | ||||||
| Loss on sale of marketable securities | — | (131 | ) | |||||
| Other income | $ | 10,982 | $ | 8,297 |
The increase in interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024, is principally attributable to higher interest rates on marketable securities.
Foreign exchange gain on transactions of our Switzerland based subsidiary denominated in currency other than the U.S. dollar increased in the year ended December 31, 2024, as to compared to the loss for year ended December 31, 2023, principally due to the strengthening of the U.S Dollar with respect to, principally, the Swiss Franc.
Provision for income taxes
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded a provision for income taxes of $2.6 million, primarily driven by the current federal and state taxes related to the $50.0 million upfront payment for Roche Agreement, which will be recognized as taxable Global Intangible Low Tax Income, or GILTI.
Liquidity and capital resources
Overview
Due to our significant research and development expenditures, we have generated operating losses since our inception. We have funded our operations primarily through the issuance and sale of convertible promissory notes, convertible preferred stock, public offerings of our common stock or warrants to purchase common stock, registered direct offerings, and through our collaboration agreements.
In May 2024, we entered into an underwriting agreement with TD Securities (USA) LLC, as representative of the several underwriters, related to an underwritten public offering, or the Offering, of 10,638,476 shares of common stock at a price of $4.70 per share, and, in lieu of Common Stock to certain investors, pre-funded warrants to purchase 10,638,524 shares of Common Stock at a price of $4.6999 per pre-funded warrant, which represents the price per share at which shares of Common Stock were sold in this Offering, minus $0.0001, which is the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant. The pre-funded warrants are immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. Aggregate gross proceeds from the Offering were $100 million, or aggregate net proceeds of $96.4 million after deducting the underwriter discounts, commissions, and other offering costs.
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In December 2024, we also announced the closing of the global exclusive development and commercialization License Agreement with Novartis to advance VAV1-directed MGDs, including MRT-6160. Under the terms of the agreement, we received from Novartis an upfront payment of $150 million.
As of December 31, 2024, we had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities, of $377.0 million and an accumulated deficit of $438.6 million. We believe that our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our planned operations for at least one year past the issuance date of these financial statements.
Cash flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| Year ended December 31, | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 41,996 | $ | (43,802 | ) | |||
| Investing activities | (44,452 | ) | 88,801 | |||||
| Financing activities | 98,892 | 27,492 | ||||||
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 96,436 | $ | 72,491 |
Operating activities
During the year ended December 31, 2024, net cash provided by operating activities of $42.0 million was attributable to our net loss of $72.7 million off-set by an increase in deferred revenue of $83.4 million, $23.3 million in non-cash charges, and changes in our working capital accounts of $8.0 million. Non-cash charges primarily include stock-based compensation expense of $18.1 million and depreciation expense of $8.1 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in operating activities of $43.8 million was attributable to our net loss of $135.4 million off-set by an increase in deferred revenue of $50.0 million, $19.1 million in non-cash charges, and changes in our working capital accounts of $22.5 million. Non-cash charges primarily include stock-based compensation expense of $16.7 million and depreciation expense of $6.2 million.
Investing activities
Cash used in investing activities of $44.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, was primarily attributable to the purchases of marketable securities of $230.4 million and property and equipment of $4.0 million, off-set by cash provided by financing activities attributable to the maturities of marketable securities of $189.9 million.
Cash provided by investing activities of $88.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily attributable to proceeds from maturities of marketable securities of $165.3 million and proceeds from the sale of marketable securities of $45.6 million, off-set by purchases of marketable securities of $103.2 million and property and equipment of $19.0 million.
Financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 amounted to $98.9 million principally attributable to net proceeds from our stock offerings of $97.3 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 amounted to $27.5 million principally attributable to the sale of pre-funded warrants for aggregate net proceeds of $24.9 million.
Funding requirements
Any product candidates we may develop may never achieve commercialization and we anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We expect that our research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses, and capital expenditures will continue to increase. As a result, until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including potentially collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. Our primary uses of capital are, and we expect will continue to be, compensation and related expenses, third-party clinical research, manufacturing and development services, costs relating to the build-out of our headquarters, laboratories and manufacturing facility, license payments or milestone obligations that may arise, laboratory and related supplies, clinical costs, manufacturing costs, legal and other regulatory expenses and general overhead costs.
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Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that the existing cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities of $377.0 million, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. We base this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect.
We will continue to require additional financing to advance our current product candidates through clinical development, to develop, acquire or in-license other potential product candidates and to fund operations for the foreseeable future. We will continue to seek funds through equity offerings, debt financings or other capital sources, including potential collaborations, licenses and other similar arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other arrangements when needed on favorable terms or at
all. If we do raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders, will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect our stockholders’ rights. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, we may be subject to covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Any failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies. If we are unable to raise capital, we will need to delay, reduce or terminate planned activities to reduce costs.
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products, we are unable to estimate the exact amount of our operating capital requirements. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:
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the scope, progress, results and costs of researching, developing and manufacturing our current product candidates or any future product candidates, and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials;
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the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals or clearances for our lead product candidates or any future product candidates;
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the number and characteristics of any additional product candidates we develop or acquire;
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the cost of manufacturing our lead product candidate or any future product candidates and any products we successfully commercialize, including costs associated with building-out our manufacturing capabilities;
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our ability to establish and maintain strategic collaborations, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of any such agreements that we may enter;
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the expenses needed to attract and retain skilled personnel;
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the costs associated with being a public company;
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the timing, receipt and amount of sales of any future approved or cleared products, if any; and
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the effect of global economic uncertainty and financial market volatility caused by economic effects of rising inflation and interest rates, global health crises, geopolitical events, changes in international trade relationships and military conflicts on any of the foregoing or other aspects of our business or operations.
Further, our operating plans may change, and we may need additional funds to meet operational needs and capital requirements for clinical trials and other research and development activities. We currently have no credit facility or committed sources of capital. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with the development and commercialization of our product candidates, we are unable to estimate the amounts of increased capital outlays and operating expenditures associated with our current and anticipated product development programs.
Critical accounting policies and significant judgments and estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
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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.
Research and development expense and accruals
We record research and development expenses to operations as incurred. Research and development expenses represent costs incurred by us for development of our technology discovery engine and the discovery and development of our product candidates and include: employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits and non-cash stock-based compensation expense; external research and development expenses incurred under arrangements with third parties, including preclinical testing organizations, non-profit institutions and consultants; and other expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for laboratory, facilities and other costs.
As part of the process of preparing financial statements, we are required to estimate and accrue expenses. We estimate costs of research and development activities conducted by service providers. Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in research and development are deferred and recognized as expense in the period in which the related goods are received or services are rendered. If the costs have been prepaid, this expense reduces the prepaid expenses in the balance sheet, and if not yet invoiced, the costs are included in accrued expenses in the balance sheet. We classify such prepaid assets as current or non-current assets based on our estimates of the timing of when the goods or services will be realized or consumed. These costs are a significant component of our research and development expenses.
We estimate these costs based on factors such as estimates of the work completed and budget provided and in accordance with our agreements with established third-party service providers. We estimate the amount of work completed through discussions with internal personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of the services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services. We make significant judgments and estimates in determining the accrued expense balance in each reporting period. As actual costs become known, we adjust our estimates. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed may vary from our estimates and could result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. Our accrued expenses are dependent, in part, upon the receipt of timely and accurate reporting from external third-party service providers. Amounts ultimately incurred in relation to amounts accrued for these services at a reporting date may be substantially higher or lower than our estimates.
We have and may continue to enter into license agreements to access and utilize certain technology. We evaluate if the license agreement is an acquisition of an asset or a business. To date none of our license agreements have been considered to be an acquisition of a business. For asset acquisitions, the upfront payments to acquire such licenses, as well as any future milestone payments made before product approval, are immediately recognized as research and development expense when due, provided there is no alternative future use of the rights in other research and development projects.
Revenue Recognition
To date, our revenues have primarily consisted of consideration related to the Roche License and Collaboration Agreement and the Novartis License Agreement. Goods and service that we are required to provide to Roche and Novartis under these agreements are accounted for under ASC 606. In accordance with ASC 606, we recognize revenue when our customers obtain control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services.
To determine the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized for arrangements determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, we perform the following five steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the assessment of the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when, or as we satisfy each performance obligation.
As part of the accounting for arrangements under ASC 606, we must use significant judgment to determine the performance obligations based on the determination under step (ii) above. We also use judgment to determine whether milestones or other variable consideration, except for royalties and sales-based milestones, should be included in the transaction price as described below. We recognize revenue based on those amounts when, or as, the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied.
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The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which we will be entitled in exchange for transferring goods and services to the customer. To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, we estimate the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing either the expected value method or the most likely amount method, depending on the nature of the variable consideration. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in management’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur. Any estimates, including the effect of the constraint on variable consideration, are evaluated at each reporting period for any changes.
If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis unless the transaction price is variable and meets the criteria to be allocated entirely to a performance obligation or to a distinct service that forms part of a single performance obligation. The consideration to be received is allocated among the separate performance obligations based on relative standalone selling prices. Determining the standalone selling price of each performance obligation requires significant judgment and is discussed in further detail in Note 9.
We utilize judgment to assess the nature of the performance obligation to determine whether the performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress. We evaluate the measure of progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjust the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. The measure of progress, and the resulting periods over which revenue should be recognized, are subject to estimates by management and may change over the course of the arrangement, which are subject to review by the joint research committee, or JRC. Such a change could have a material impact on the amount of revenue we record in future periods. We concluded that the transfer of control to the customer for the performance obligation occurs over the time period that the research and development services are provided by us. We recognize revenue for the performance obligation as those services are provided using an input method, based on the cumulative costs incurred compared to the total estimated costs expected to be incurred to satisfy the performance obligation. The percentage of completion method is, in management’s judgment, the best measure of progress towards satisfying the performance condition.
At the inception of each arrangement that includes research, development or regulatory milestone payments, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered likely to be met and estimate the amount to be considered for inclusion in the transaction price using the most-likely-amount method. If it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized would not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. For milestone payments due upon events that are not within our control, such as regulatory approvals, we are not able to assert that it is likely that the regulatory approval will be granted and that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur until those approvals are received. In making this assessment, we evaluate factors such as the scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the particular milestone. There is considerable judgment involved in determining whether it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized would not occur.
We reevaluate the transaction price and our total estimated costs expected to be incurred at the end of each reporting period and as uncertain events, such as changes to the expected timing and cost of certain research, development and manufacturing activities that we are responsible for, are resolved or other changes in circumstances occur. If necessary, we will adjust our estimate of the transaction price or our estimates of the total costs expected to be incurred. To date, we have not had any significant changes in our estimates.
For a complete discussion of our significant accounting policies and recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the accompanying notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.
Contractual obligations and commitments
Roche Collaboration and License Agreement
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On October 16, 2023, we entered into a Collaboration and License Agreement with Roche, for the discovery and development of molecular glue degraders against targets in cancer and neurological diseases. Under the Roche Agreement, we will lead the discovery and certain preclinical activities against multiple select targets. Following the completion of certain preclinical studies, Roche has the option to continue the further development and potential commercialization of compounds identified and generated under the collaboration and products containing such compounds at its sole responsibility and at its own cost. The initial scope of the agreement is limited to a specified number of targets but may be expanded to include additional targets subject to certain conditions and additional compensation payable to us. Pursuant to the terms of the Roche Agreement, we granted to Roche an exclusive license to use certain of its platform technology for the exploitation of compounds and products discovered and developed under the agreement. We received an upfront payment of $50.0 million and milestone payments of $9 million from Roche under the terms of the Roche Agreement. Additionally, we are eligible to receive additional contingent payments from Roche upon the occurrence of defined research, development, regulatory and sales-based events exceeding $3 billion. We are also entitled to tiered royalties on sales of products containing compounds identified and generated from activities conducted under the arrangement. The Roche Agreement term commences on the execution date and continues until no payment obligations remain, unless otherwise terminated earlier.
Novartis License Agreement
On October 25, 2024, we entered into a License Agreement with Novartis. Pursuant to the Novartis Agreement, we will grant to Novartis an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable and transferable license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize VAV1 MGDs, including MRT-6160, which is currently in Phase 1 clinical development for immune-mediated conditions. We are responsible for completing the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study and Novartis is responsible for all subsequent development and commercial activities starting at Phase 2. Pursuant to the Agreement, we received from Novartis (1) an upfront payment of $150 million, (2) are entitled to receive up to $2.1 billion in development, regulatory, and sales milestones, beginning upon initiation of Phase 2 studies including (a) potential development and regulatory milestone payments, exceeding $1.5 billion if multiple indications achieve regulatory approval in multiple territories, (b) potential sales milestones payments in connection with sales outside of the United States, and (3) tiered royalties on sales outside of the United States. We will continue to be responsible for costs associated with the ongoing Phase 1 clinical study and Novartis will be responsible for costs associated with any subsequent clinical studies. We and Novartis also agreed to a net profit and loss sharing arrangement, pursuant to which we will co-fund any global clinical development from Phase 3 onwards and will share 30% of any profits and losses associated with the manufacturing and commercialization of the licensed products in the United States. We have defined opportunities to opt out of the net profit and loss sharing arrangement, in such case, sales in the United States would be entitled to the potential sales milestones payments and tiered royalties as sales outside of the United States. Any costs for any co-funded development and commercialization activities are subject to budgets reviewed by us and Novartis.
See the section entitled “Business—Our services, collaboration and licenses agreements” elsewhere in this Annual Report as well as Note 9 to our annual consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report for a description of our collaboration and license agreements.
Lease Commitments
Our lease commitments reflect payments due for our two lease agreements for laboratory and office space in Boston, Massachusetts and Basel, Switzerland that expire in 2032 and 2027, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, our contractual commitments for our leases were $61.6 million, which will be paid over the term of such leases. For additional information on our leases and timing of future payments, please read Note 7, Leases, to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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