# Kodiak Sciences Inc. (KOD) FY 2024 MD&A

Verbatim Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis from Kodiak Sciences Inc.'s 10-K for fiscal year 2024.

SEC filing source: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1468748/000095017025046098/kod-20241231.htm
Accession: 0000950170-25-046098
Filing date: 2025-03-27
Report date: 2024-12-31
Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary.
Confidence: high

Company profile: /company/KOD/
All MD&A years: /company/KOD/mda/
Previous year: /company/KOD/mda/fy2023/ (FY 2023)
Next year: /company/KOD/mda/fy2025/ (FY 2025)

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 the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion and analysis and other parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements based upon current beliefs, plans and expectations related to future events and our future financial performance that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our intentions, plans, objectives, expectations, forecasts and projections. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including those set forth under the section titled “Part I, Item 1A — Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

Kodiak Sciences (“we”, the “Company” or “Kodiak”) is a biopharmaceutical company committed to researching, developing, and commercializing transformative therapeutics to treat a broad spectrum of retinal diseases. We are focused on bringing new science to the design and manufacture of next generation retinal medicines to prevent and treat the leading causes of blindness globally. Our ABC Platform uses molecular engineering to merge the fields of protein-based and chemistry-based therapies and has been at the core of Kodiak's discovery engine. We are developing a portfolio of three clinical programs, two of which are late-stage today and derived from our ABC Platform and one which is platform-independent and which we believe can progress rapidly into pivotal studies.

Kodiak's lead investigational medicine, tarcocimab, is a novel anti-VEGF antibody biopolymer conjugate under development for the treatment of high prevalence retinal vascular diseases. Tarcocimab is currently being studied in two Phase 3 clinical trials, GLOW2 in patients with diabetic retinopathy and DAYBREAK in patients with wet AMD. GLOW2 enrollment is complete, and DAYBREAK is actively enrolling patients.

KSI-501 is our second investigational medicine, a first-in-class anti-IL-6, VEGF-trap bispecific antibody biopolymer conjugate designed to inhibit both IL-6 mediated inflammation and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis and vascular permeability. KSI-501 is being developed for the treatment of high prevalence retinal vascular diseases to address the unmet needs of extended durability and targeting disease biology beyond VEGF for differentiated efficacy. The Phase 3 DAYBREAK study of KSI-501 in wet AMD is actively enrolling patients.

KSI-101, our third product candidate, is a novel anti-IL-6, VEGF-trap bispecific protein. Kodiak is developing KSI-101 for the treatment of retinal inflammatory diseases, as currently there are no available intravitreal biologic therapies addressing the spectrum of inflammatory conditions of the retina. The Phase 1b APEX study of KSI-101 is actively enrolling patients, as a precursor to activating the Phase 2b/3 studies in patients with macular edema secondary to inflammation (“MESI”).

Kodiak is advancing its platform technology to embed small molecules and other active pharmaceutical ingredients ("APIs") into Kodiak's proprietary biopolymer backbone to enable high drug-antibody-ratio ("DAR") medicines. The diverse APIs are designed to be released over time to achieve targeted, multi-specific and tailored modulation of biological pathways. The unique combination of high DAR and tailored therapeutic benefit offers potential for broad application to multifactorial diseases and builds directly from our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate technology and its 15 years of design, development and manufacturing experience. We call this platform extension our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug (“ABCD”) Platform because we are extending our platform capabilities to include the conjugation of small molecule drugs whereas historically we conjugated biologics such as antibodies.

Recent Updates

Tarcocimab Clinical Program Summary and Update

Kodiak’s lead clinical program tarcocimab is an investigational anti-VEGF therapy built on Kodiak’s ABC Platform and is designed to maintain potent and effective drug levels in ocular tissues for longer than existing available agents. It is being developed as a mainstay intravitreal biologic monotherapy intended to provide high immediacy, driven by the enhanced formulation, and high durability, driven by the ABC Platform and our science of durability, with the ultimate objective of providing, once approved, a flexible 1-month through 6-month label. Kodiak’s objective with tarcocimab is to enable earlier treatment and prevention of vision loss for patients with diabetic retinopathy and to develop a new high immediacy and high durability agent to improve outcomes for patients with retinal vascular diseases.

71

To date, tarcocimab has been studied in six pivotal clinical studies: Phase 3 GLOW1 study in diabetic retinopathy (“DR”), Phase 3 BEACON study in retinal vein occlusion (“RVO”), Phase 3 DAYLIGHT study in wet AMD, Phase 3 GLEAM and GLIMMER studies with identical study design in diabetic macular edema (“DME”), and Phase 2/3 DAZZLE study in wet AMD. Of the six registrational studies, GLOW1, BEACON and DAYLIGHT successfully met the primary endpoint. Tarcocimab is currently being studied in two Phase 3 clinical trials, the GLOW2 study in DR and the DAYBREAK study in wet AMD. GLOW2 has completed enrollment and DAYBREAK is actively enrolling. Kodiak anticipates to be in a position to announce topline data for the primary endpoint for GLOW2 in 1Q 2026 and for the primary endpoint for DAYBREAK in 2Q 2026. Kodiak plans to wait for DAYBREAK topline data expected 2Q 2026 in order to file a single Biologics License Application (“BLA”) for tarcocimab in wet AMD, DR and RVO.

Both GLOW2 and DAYBREAK use tarcocimab’s enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation containing both conjugated and unconjugated antibody that is intended to deliver high immediacy and high durability.

More information about study design and results, if completed, from each individual pivotal study are summarized below:

Ongoing Phase 3 Studies:

GLOW2 – Phase 3 Study in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy

The Phase 3 GLOW2 study is the second registrational trial of tarcocimab in DR. GLOW2 has a similar design as GLOW1 in which all patients randomized to investigational therapy will receive tarcocimab on extended, 6-month dosing. GLOW2 features the benefit of an additional, third monthly loading dose (baseline, Week 4, Week 8) to explore even further benefits with tarcocimab in diabetic retinopathy patients.

GLOW2 study is a prospective, randomized, double-masked, multi-center pivotal superiority study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tarcocimab in treatment-naïve patients with DR. Patients are randomized 1:1 and receive either sham injections or tarcocimab via intravitreal injection at baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 20 and Week 44. The primary endpoint is the proportion of eyes improving ≥2 steps on Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale ("DRSS") from baseline at Week 48. Additional outcome measures include the proportion of eyes developing a sight threatening complication of diabetic retinopathy and the proportion of eyes improving ≥3 steps on DRSS from baseline at Week 48.

On March 10, 2025, Kodiak announced that GLOW2 completed enrollment, randomizing more than 250 patients. Kodiak expects to be in a position to announce topline data in 1Q 2026.

DAYBREAK – Phase 3 Study in Patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The Phase 3 DAYBREAK study is a non-inferiority study evaluating parallel investigational arms of tarcocimab and KSI-501 against active comparator aflibercept. Patients randomized to tarcocimab will receive individualized dosing every 4 to 24 weeks on an as needed basis following four monthly loading doses. Patients randomized to aflibercept will be dosed per its label. The individualized dosing of tarcocimab is determined by a treat-to-dryness proactive approach, using presence of retinal fluid as a disease activity marker, instead of a combination of central subfield thickness ("CST") and vision loss, which resembles retina specialists' practice and optimizes each patient's treatment. The objectives for tarcocimab in DAYBREAK are to assess its 6-month durability potential, strengthen its competitive position in wet AMD and bolster the regulatory application package for the program.

DAYBREAK is actively enrolling patients, and Kodiak anticipates to be in a position to announce topline data for the primary endpoint in 2Q 2026.

Completed Studies:

GLOW1 – Phase 3 Study in Patients with Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy without DME

The Phase 3 GLOW1 study was a global, multi-center, randomized pivotal superiority study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tarcocimab in treatment-naïve patients with moderately severe to severe DR. Patients were randomized to receive either tarcocimab every six months after initiating doses given at baseline, 8 weeks and 20 weeks into the study, or to receive sham injections. The primary endpoint was at one year.

72

On November 6, 2023, Kodiak announced that GLOW1 met its primary endpoint of the proportion of patients with at least a 2-step improvement on the Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale (DRSS) score, a grading system measuring the degree of retinopathy. Tarcocimab achieved a 29-fold increased response rate ratio, with 41.1% of evaluable patients on tarcocimab demonstrating at least 2-step improvement versus 1.4% of evaluable patients in the sham group (p-value less than 0.0001). Visual acuity and retinal anatomy were improved and stable with tarcocimab on its extended-dosing intervals. At one year, GLOW1 also met its key secondary endpoint of greater reductions in the proportion of patients developing sight-threatening complications (such as diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy), versus sham, demonstrating an 89% decreased risk, achieving 21.0% versus 2.3% (p-value less than 0.0001). Tarcocimab also showed a 95% risk reduction in the development of DME, versus sham, from 13.7% on sham versus 0.7% on tarcocimab. The rates of serious ocular adverse events and intraocular inflammation in patients treated with tarcocimab and sham were similar.

BEACON – Phase 3 Study in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Retinal Vein Occlusion

The Phase 3 BEACON study was a randomized, double-masked, multicenter, active comparator-controlled study in treatment naïve patients with vision loss and macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion, including both branch ("BRVO") and central ("CRVO") subtypes. In the initial six months of the study, patients received tarcocimab on a fixed every-8-week dosing regimen following 2 monthly loading doses or aflibercept 2mg on a fixed monthly dosing regimen per its label. In the second six months of the study, tarcocimab and aflibercept were tested head-to-head according to a pro re nata (“PRN") protocol in which patients in both groups were treated only when disease reactivated according to matched predefined disease activity criteria.

In August 2022, Kodiak announced that the BEACON study met the primary efficacy endpoint of non-inferior visual acuity change from baseline at week 24 for subjects given tarcocimab every two months after 2 monthly loading doses compared to subjects given monthly aflibercept.

On September 7, 2023, Kodiak announced new one-year results from the BEACON study. Tarcocimab demonstrated matched efficacy with differentiated durability versus aflibercept in the head-to-head comparison. After 4 initiating doses in the first 6 months, 47% of tarcocimab-treated patients required no additional injections in the second 6 months while matching the vision and anatomic outcomes of aflibercept-treated patients. Despite receiving 6 initiating monthly doses, only 37% of aflibercept patients were injection free in the second half of the study. 77% of tarcocimab treated patients received 5 or fewer doses in year one, while 93% of aflibercept treated patients received 6 or more doses. BRVO patients received a median of 4.0 injections on tarcocimab versus 7.0 injections of aflibercept. Despite materially fewer injections in tarcocimab treated patients, vision outcomes favored tarcocimab-treated patients achieving an observed mean of 76.6 letters versus 75.6 letters for aflibercept treated patients. All RVO patients received a median of 5.0 injections on tarcocimab versus 7.0 injections of aflibercept. Despite materially fewer injections in tarcocimab treated patients, vision outcomes favored tarcocimab-treated patients achieving an observed mean of 74.6 letters versus 74.3 letters for aflibercept treated patients.

Safety and tolerability were comparable between tarcocimab and aflibercept. Intraocular inflammation (IOI) rate was comparable between groups (tarcocimab 2.5% vs aflibercept 0.7%). No cases of inflammation associated with vascular occlusion or vasculitis were reported.

DAYLIGHT – Phase 3 Study in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Wet AMD

The DAYLIGHT study was a randomized, double-masked, active comparator-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of a high intensity dosing regimen of tarcocimab in 557 treatment-naïve subjects with wet AMD. On July 24, 2023, Kodiak announced that the DAYLIGHT study met the primary endpoint of non-inferior visual acuity gains at year 1 for tarcocimab dosed monthly compared to aflibercept dosed every 8 weeks following 3 monthly loading doses. Intraocular inflammation occurred in 3.3% of patients treated with monthly tarcocimab and 0.4% of patients treated with aflibercept with no vasculitis or occlusion.

GLEAM / GLIMMER – Paired Phase 3 Studies in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Diabetic Macular Edema

The GLEAM and GLIMMER studies were identically designed, randomized, double-masked, active comparator-controlled studies evaluating the efficacy, durability and safety of tarcocimab in 460 and 457 treatment-naïve subjects with DME, respectively, run in parallel.

73

On July 24, 2023, Kodiak announced that although high proportions of patients on meaningfully longer treatment intervals were observed with tarcocimab, with half of patients on every 24-week dosing at the primary endpoint, the GLEAM and GLIMMER studies did not meet their primary efficacy endpoints of showing non-inferior visual acuity gains for tarcocimab dosed every 8 to 24 weeks after 3 monthly loading doses compared to aflibercept given every 8 weeks after 5 monthly loading doses. At the primary efficacy endpoint of the GLEAM study, patients treated with tarcocimab gained an observed average of 6.4 eye chart letters (to 73.1 letters), compared with 10.3 letters for patients treated with aflibercept (to 76.5 letters). In GLIMMER, patients treated with tarcocimab gained an observed average of 7.4 eye chart letters at the primary endpoint (to 72.5 letters) compared with 12.2 letters (to 76.4 letters) for patients treated with aflibercept.

An unexpected increase in cataract adverse events was reported over time in the tarcocimab arms of both GLEAM and GLIMMER, with 19% on tarcocimab versus 9% on aflibercept at the primary endpoint based on the pooled safety population. Kodiak’s evaluation suggested that the decline in visual acuity associated with cataracts likely contributed meaningfully to the failure of each study.

Half of tarcocimab treated patients in the GLEAM and GLIMMER studies were on every 24-week dosing at the primary endpoint, two-thirds achieved at least one 6-month dosing interval during the studies, and three-quarters achieved at least one 5-month or longer treatment interval. Intraocular inflammation was rare, occurring in 1.3% and 0.2% of tarcocimab and aflibercept treated patients, respectively. No cases of intraocular inflammation with vasculitis or vascular occlusion were observed.

DAZZLE – Phase 2b/3 Study in Patients with Treatment-Naïve Wet AMD

The DAZZLE study was a global, multi-center, randomized pivotal study designed to evaluate the durability, efficacy and safety of tarcocimab in patients with treatment-naïve wet AMD. In February 2022 Kodiak announced that this initial pivotal study did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint of non-inferior visual acuity gains for subjects dosed on extended regimens every 12-, 16- or 20 weeks with tarcocimab compared to subjects given aflibercept every 8 weeks. Following this announcement, Kodiak discontinued the study and concluded remaining trial-associated activities.

Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug Substance Manufacturing

In August 2020, we entered into a manufacturing agreement with Lonza Ltd (“Lonza”) for the clinical and commercial supply of the Company’s antibody biopolymer conjugate drug substance which included a custom-built manufacturing facility. The manufacturing agreement has an initial term of 8 years, and the Company has the right to extend the term up to a total of 16 years. The Company and Lonza each have the ability to terminate this agreement upon the occurrence of certain events.

In April 2021, the agreement was amended to provide for greater manufacturing flexibility, to define a comprehensive mandate as an antibody biopolymer conjugates manufacturing facility to be used for the Company’s antibody biopolymer conjugates pipeline, at clinical as well as commercial scales, across a broad capacity range under the tight quality controls required for ophthalmology and retinal medicines, and to allow for future process and equipment changes as needed.

Under the agreement, Kodiak and Lonza planned a custom-built facility (“Ursus”) dedicated to the commercial-scale manufacturing of Kodiak’s drug substance. In January 2023, the custom-built manufacturing suite Ursus was commissioned as a cGMP facility. Kodiak worked together with Lonza and regulatory authorities to obtain approval for Ursus, and we released our first commercial scale cGMP batch of tarcocimab in July 2023. In October 2023, Kodiak made a final payment of $26.8 million to Lonza for final activation of Ursus. Separately, tarcocimab drug product based on our enhanced formulation was released in March 2024 and is being used in the GLOW2 and DAYBREAK pivotal studies.

KSI-501 Clinical Program Update

KSI-501 is an anti-IL-6, VEGF-trap bispecific antibody biopolymer conjugate built on the ABC Platform and is being developed for high prevalence retinal vascular diseases to address the unmet needs of extended durability and targeting disease biology beyond VEGF for differentiated efficacy. KSI-501 is designed to provide high immediacy/efficacy, driven by the enhanced formulation, and high durability, driven by the ABC Platform and our science of durability.

74

Higher intraocular levels of IL-6 are correlated with poorer BCVA outcomes over time in wet AMD patients treated with anti-VEGF monotherapy, which suggests that IL-6 inhibition in combination with anti-VEGF therapy could lead to improved outcomes. In preclinical models, KSI-501 was shown to be a potent inhibitor of VEGF and IL-6 and, further, was shown to normalize the blood retinal barrier, opening up the possibility that KSI-501 may be a disease-modifying therapy for retinal vascular diseases. A completed Phase 1 multiple ascending dose study demonstrated that repeated monthly dosing of KSI-501 was well tolerated and achieved clinically meaningful and sustained improvement in visual acuity and fluid reduction in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Kodiak has advanced KSI-501 into a Phase 3 study DAYBREAK to evaluate its efficacy and safety in wet AMD. The DAYBREAK study is a non-inferiority study evaluating parallel investigational arms of KSI-501 and tarcocimab against active comparator aflibercept. Patients randomized to KSI-501 will receive fixed every 8-week dosing with additional individualized dosing (up to monthly dosing) on an as needed basis after 4 monthly loading doses. Patients randomized to aflibercept will be dosed per its label. The primary endpoint is non-inferiority in change in visual acuity from baseline to the average of Week 40, 44 and 48. DAYBREAK uses KSI-501's enhanced 50 mg/mL formulation containing both conjugated and unconjugated antibody that is intended to deliver high immediacy and high durability. The objective for KSI-501 in DAYBREAK is to explore the efficacy potential of bispecific VEGF and IL-6 inhibition in a broad treatment-naïve wet AMD population. DAYBREAK is now actively enrolling patients.

KSI-101 Clinical Program Update

KSI-101 is a novel, potent and high strength (100 mg/mL) bispecific protein targeting IL-6 and VEGF. We are developing KSI-101 for patients who have retinal fluid and inflammation. Currently there are no available intravitreal biologic therapies addressing the spectrum of inflammatory conditions of the retina. We believe that retinal inflammatory conditions represent a new market segment separate from the established anti-VEGF market. KSI-101 is a clinical prospect with opportunities and risks uncoupled from the ABC Platform, and as such is an important part of our late-phase portfolio. We have initiated a dose-finding Phase 1b study APEX. The APEX study evaluates KSI-101 in two cohorts, Cohort 1 in patients with diabetic macular edema ("DME") and Cohort 2 in patients with macular edema secondary to inflammation ("MESI"). The goal of the APEX study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of KSI-101 and to identify two dose levels to progress into dual Phase 2b/3 studies (PEAK and PINNACLE) in MESI.

In January 2025, we presented early APEX data in patients with MESI that demonstrated strong treatment response at all KSI-101 dose levels. We expect to present additional APEX data at an Investor R&D update in June 2025.

KSI-501 and KSI-101 Manufacturing

We have been progressing the manufacturing of KSI-501 and KSI-101 in preparation for the anticipated clinical studies. Clinical material for both KSI-501 (50 mg/mL strength in our enhanced formulation) and KSI-101 (100 mg/mL strength) were successfully manufactured in the first quarter of 2024.

ABC Platform Development

Kodiak is advancing its platform technology to embed small molecules and other active pharmaceutical ingredients ("API") into Kodiak's proprietary biopolymer backbone to enable high drug-antibody-ratio ("DAR") medicines. The diverse APIs are designed to be released over time to achieve targeted, multi-specific and tailored modulation of biological pathways. The unique combination of high DAR and tailored therapeutic benefit offers potential for broad application to multifactorial systemic and ocular diseases and builds directly from our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate technology and its 15 years of design, development and manufacturing experience. We call this platform extension our Antibody Biopolymer Conjugate Drug ("ABCD") Platform because we are extending our platform capabilities to include the conjugation of small molecule drugs whereas historically we primarily conjugated biologics such as antibodies.

One program is for the treatment of glaucoma, embedding in the biopolymer backbone (i) an NLRP3 small molecule inhibitor, and (ii) a second small molecule that lowers intraocular pressure ("IOP"). The NLRP3 inflammasome is an intracellular complex that drives inflammation and cell death and is known to play a key role in glaucoma progression. The goal of this duet program is to create an intravitreally injected therapy that delivers two mechanisms of action ("MOA") in a sustained release fashion, to fulfill the unmet needs in the glaucoma field for non-topical, long-durability therapy that delivers MOAs beyond IOP lowering and has the potential of quarterly dosing.

75

The second program is for the treatment of geographic atrophy (“GA”). There are two approved therapies, both complement inhibitors, and they require monthly or every other month intravitreal injections and neither sufficiently halts disease progression. This program at Kodiak explores the potential to embed in the biopolymer backbone (i) a macrocyclic peptide inhibitor of the complement pathway, and (ii) an NLRP3 small molecule inhibitor. The NLRP3 inflammasome is known to play a key role in AMD disease biology. The objective of this duet program is to create an intravitreally injected ABCD platform-enabled therapy with a dual mechanism of action to achieve better efficacy and extended durability, for quarterly dosing, as compared to currently approved therapies for GA.

Digital Health Platform Development

Kodiak also continues to advance its VETi (Visual Engagement Technology and imager) program. VETi is built on Kodiak’s suite of proprietary LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor technologies. VETi is an autonomous AI- and machine-learning-enabled headset that engages directly into the eye. Kodiak’s goal is to commercialize VETi together with Kodiak’s emerging portfolio of retinal medicines using apps that apply AI-enabled tools. Kodiak also believes VETi has future potential to be used to build correlations between VETi data and many human diseases outside of retina and then to be used to diagnose disease and monitor treatment. VETi may also have future potential as an AI-enabled device with similarities to a consumer smartwatch but with direct access into the body and the brain through the eye rather than through the skin.

Financial Operations Overview

Since inception in June 2009, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to discovering and developing product candidates and manufacturing processes, building our ABC Platform and assembling our core capabilities in drug development for a broad spectrum of retinal diseases. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any product revenue since inception. We have funded our operations primarily through the issuance of common stock and the sale of future royalties.

Components of Operating Results

Research and Development Expenses

Substantially all of our research and development expenses consist of expenses incurred in connection with the development of our product candidates and ABC Platform. These expenses include certain payroll and personnel expenses, including stock-based compensation, for our research and product development employees; laboratory supplies and facility costs; consulting costs; fees paid to third-party vendors to conduct certain research and development activities on our behalf; and allocated overhead, including rent, equipment, depreciation and utilities. We expense both internal and external research and development expenses as they are incurred. Costs of certain activities, such as manufacturing and preclinical and clinical studies, are generally recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks. Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are recognized as expense as the goods are delivered or the related services are performed.

We are focusing substantially all of our resources and development efforts on the development of our product candidates. Predicting the timing or the final cost to complete our clinical program or validation of our commercial manufacturing and supply processes is difficult and delays may occur because of many factors, including factors outside of our control. For example, if the FDA or other regulatory authorities were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we currently anticipate, or if we experience significant delays in enrollment in any of our clinical trials, we could be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development. Furthermore, we are unable to predict when or if our drug candidates will receive regulatory approval with any certainty.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist principally of payroll and personnel expenses, including stock-based compensation; professional fees for legal, consulting, accounting and tax services; compliance costs associated with being a public company; allocated overhead, including rent, equipment, depreciation and utilities; and other general operating expenses not otherwise classified as research and development expenses.

76

Interest Income

Interest income consists primarily of interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net consists primarily of the change in fair value and settlement of derivative contracts and tax expense.

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the periods indicated (in thousands, except percentages):

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["","","Year Ended December 31,","","","Change"],["","","2024","","","2023","","","Dollar","","","Percent"],["Operating expenses"],["Research and development","","$","126,095","","","$","206,298","","","$","(80,203",")","","","(39","%)"],["General and administrative","","","60,754","","","","71,023","","","","(10,269",")","","","(14","%)"],["Loss from operations","","","(186,849",")","","","(277,321",")","","","90,472","","","","(33","%)"],["Interest income","","","11,148","","","","16,733","","","","(5,585",")","","","(33","%)"],["Interest expense","","","\u2014","","","","(13",")","","","13","","","*"],["Other income (expense), net","","","(506",")","","","110","","","","(616",")","","*"],["Net loss","","$","(176,207",")","","$","(260,491",")","","$","84,284","","","","(32","%)"]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

* Change is not meaningful

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses decreased $80.2 million, or 39%, during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023.

The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the periods indicated (in thousands):

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["","","Year Ended December 31,"],["","","2024","","","2023","","","Change"],["Tarcocimab program expenses","","$","39,496","","","$","90,513","","","$","(51,017",")"],["KSI-501 and KSI-101 program expenses","","","8,495","","","","7,264","","","","1,231"],["ABC Platform and other program expenses","","","12,915","","","","20,997","","","","(8,082",")"],["Payroll and personnel expenses","","","45,522","","","","65,382","","","","(19,860",")"],["Facilities and other research and development expenses","","","19,667","","","","22,142","","","","(2,475",")"],["Total research and development expenses","","$","126,095","","","$","206,298","","","$","(80,203",")"]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

Tarcocimab program expenses decreased $51.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, primarily driven by reduced manufacturing activities and decreased clinical activities for completed trials, partially offset by costs from active clinical trials for the tarcocimab development program.

KSI-501 and KSI-101 program expenses increased $1.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, stemming from expanding clinical activities for both product candidates.

ABC Platform and other program expenses decreased $8.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, due to reduced manufacturing activities.

Payroll and personnel expenses decreased $19.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, mainly attributable to timing of forfeitures of equity awards.

77

Facilities and other research and development expenses decreased $2.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, primarily driven by reduced costs for digital transformation activities as well as currency fluctuations in the revaluation of our lease and capital obligations.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased $10.3 million, or 14%, during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, primarily driven by stock-based compensation expense related to previously issued higher value awards becoming fully vested.

Interest Income

Interest income decreased $5.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, which was mainly attributable to the decrease in cash available to earn interest during 2024.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net decreased $0.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023, which was mainly attributable to the settlement of foreign currency forward contracts.

Comparison of the Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

For a comparison of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, refer to “Part II, Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024.

Liquidity and Capital Resources; Plan of Operations

Sources of Liquidity

We have funded our operations primarily through the issuance of common stock and the sale of future royalties. As of December 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $168.1 million. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to support our current and planned operations into 2026.

Future Funding Requirements

We have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception. As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $1,328.7 million. We expect to continue to incur operating losses and negative operating cash flows for the foreseeable future and as a result, there is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

We plan to raise additional capital to maintain current operations and to continue research and development activities. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience dilution. Any future debt financing into which we enter may impose upon us covenants that restrict our operations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens or debt, pay dividends, repurchase our common stock, make certain investments and engage in certain merger, consolidation or asset sale transactions. Any debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms that are not favorable to us or our stockholders. If we are unable to raise additional funds when needed, we may be required to pause, scale back or discontinue one or more of our development programs. We may also be required to sell or license rights to our product candidates or indications in certain territories to others that we would prefer to develop and commercialize ourselves. Adequate additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all.

Our failure to raise capital as and when needed could have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategies. Refer to the section of this report titled “Part I, Item 1A — Risk Factors” for additional risks associated with our substantial capital requirements.

To date, we have not generated any product revenue. We do not expect to generate any product revenue unless and until we obtain regulatory approval of and commercialize any of our product candidates or enter into collaborative agreements with third parties, and we do not know when, or if, either will occur. We expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect our losses to increase as we continue the development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates, and begin to commercialize any approved products. We are subject to all of the risks typically related to the development of new product candidates, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business.

78

The timing and amount of our operating expenditures and capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

•
the scope, timing, rate of progress and costs of our drug discovery, preclinical development activities, laboratory testing and clinical trials for our product candidates;

•
the number and scope of clinical programs we decide to pursue;

•
the scope and costs of manufacturing development and commercial manufacturing activities;

•
the cost, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates;

•
the cost and timing associated with commercializing our product candidates, if they receive marketing approval;

•
the costs of preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending intellectual property-related claims;

•
the extent to which we acquire or in-license other product candidates and technologies;

•
our ability to establish and maintain collaborations on favorable terms, if at all;

•
our efforts to enhance operational systems and our ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel, including personnel to support the development of our product candidates; and

•
the costs associated with being a public company.

A change in the outcome of any of these or other variables with respect to the development of any of our product candidates could significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate. Furthermore, our operating plans may change in the future, and we will continue to require additional capital to meet operational needs and capital requirements associated with such operating plans.

Also, the significant uncertainties caused by any public health crises, on-going geopolitical conflicts, inflation, tariffs, rising interest rates, bank failures, on-going supply chain disruptions and volatile equity capital markets may also negatively impact our operations and capital resources. We and our key clinical and manufacturing partners have been able to continue to advance our operations, and we continue to monitor the impact of the aforementioned events on our ability to continue the development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates, and begin to commercialize any approved products. One or more of these events may ultimately have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and operating plans.

We have based our estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could deplete our available capital resources sooner than we expect. Because of the risks and uncertainties associated with research, development and commercialization of product candidates, we are unable to estimate the exact amount of our working capital requirements. Our future funding requirements will depend on and could increase significantly as a result of many factors.

Summary Statement of Cash Flows

The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash for each of the periods presented below (in thousands):

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["","","Year Ended December 31,"],["","","2024","","","2023"],["Net cash provided by (used in):"],["Operating activities","","$","(117,319",")","","$","(154,183",")"],["Investing activities","","","(755",")","","","249,226"],["Financing activities","","","501","","","","31"],["Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash","","$","(117,573",")","","$","95,074"]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities decreased to $117.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, based on operational spend of $88.9 million and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $28.4 million.

79

Material Cash Requirements and Material Known Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Operating Leases

Operating lease payments represent our commitment for future minimum rent made under non-cancelable leases for our corporate offices in Palo Alto, California, office and laboratory space in Visp, Switzerland, and related to our Ursus Facility. Total future undiscounted payments for our operating lease obligations as of December 31, 2024 were $88.6 million, of which $14.9 million is due in the next twelve months.

Manufacturing Agreements

The Company has entered into service and equipment purchase agreements in the normal course of business with various providers, which can contain minimum commitments or other noncancelable obligations.

As of December 31, 2024, future contractual obligations related to these manufacturing agreements that may be subject to cancellation fees were $19.4 million, of which $15.0 million is expected to be due in the next twelve months.

In addition, future manufacturing contractual obligations totaling approximately 105.3 million Swiss Francs may be incurred for the potential clinical and commercial supply of tarcocimab and other antibody biopolymer conjugates medicines based on the agreements with Lonza for production at the Ursus Facility.

For further information on our leases and manufacturing agreements, refer to Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in “Part II, Item 8 — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Clinical Agreements

The Company may incur potential contingent payments upon our achievement of clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, as applicable. Due to the uncertainty of the achievement and timing of the events requiring payment under these agreements, the amounts to be paid by us are not fixed or determinable at this time.

Critical Accounting Policies, Significant Judgments and Use of Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements 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, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated 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. 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.

Accrued Research and Development

Our accrued research and development costs are estimated based on the level of services performed, including the phase or completion of events, and contracted costs. Accrued clinical trial and related costs are estimated using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations or information provided by outside service providers regarding their actual costs incurred. Management determined accrual estimates through reports from and discussions with clinical personnel and outside service providers as to the progress of trials, or the services completed. The estimated costs of research and development provided, but not yet invoiced, are included in accrued liabilities and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the original estimates, we will adjust the accrual accordingly. Payments made to third parties under these arrangements in advance of the performance of the related services are recorded as prepaid expenses and other assets until the services are rendered.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure and recognize compensation expense for all stock‑based awards made to employees, directors and non‑employees, based on estimated fair values of the awards on the grant date and recognized using the straight‑line method over the requisite service period.

80

The fair value of options is estimated on the grant date using the Black‑Scholes option valuation model or Monte Carlo simulation model. The calculation of stock‑based compensation expense requires that we make certain assumptions and judgments about a number of complex and subjective variables used in the valuation model, including the expected term, expected volatility of the underlying common stock and risk‑free interest rate. Our stock-based awards are subject to either service, performance-based or market-based vesting conditions. We evaluate whether achievement of the performance conditions is probable and record expense over the appropriate service period based on this assessment.

Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value and ultimately how much stock-based compensation expense is recognized. These inputs are subjective and generally require significant analysis and judgment to develop.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to the estimated undiscounted net cash flows which the assets are expected to generate. If such assets are deemed not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets.

We applied significant judgment in determining we have one asset group and that there is no lower level to group assets for impairment testing. The determination of the asset group primarily considers the interdependencies of our assets, shared cost structure, and the interrelated future cash flow generation. We assessed the recoverability of our asset group during the year ended December 31, 2023 based on our decision to wind-down the tarcocimab program following the topline results from the Phase 3 GLEAM and GLIMMER studies. We determined that the estimated undiscounted net cash flows which the asset group was forecasted to generate exceeded the carrying amount of the asset group and therefore, no impairment loss was recognized in 2023. There was no such impairment of long-lived assets in the year ended December 31, 2024.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is discussed under Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in “Part II, Item 8 — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

81
