UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

OR

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-36279

CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 406-3700

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes  ☒ No.

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's common stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of November 1, 2018 was: 39,446,757.

 

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

 

PART I –FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

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PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements.

CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(amounts in thousands, excluding share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(amounts in thousands, excluding share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(amounts in thousands except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.

 

 

 

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Cara Therapeutics, Inc., or the Company, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical corporation formed on July 2, 2004. The Company is focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pruritus and pain by selectively targeting kappa opioid receptors. The Company’s primary activities to date have been organizing and staffing the Company, developing its product candidates, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials of CR845/difelikefalin-based product candidates and raising capital.

As of September 30, 2018, the Company had raised aggregate net proceeds of approximately $383,200 from several rounds of equity financing, including its initial public offering, or IPO, which closed in February 2014 and three follow-on public offerings of common stock, which closed in July 2018, April 2017 and August 2015, and the issuance of convertible preferred stock and debt prior to the IPO. The Company had also received approximately $88,900 under its license agreements for CR845/difelikefalin, primarily with Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd., or VFMCRP, Maruishi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., or Maruishi, and Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp., or CKDP, and an earlier product candidate for which development efforts ceased in 2007. Additionally, in May 2018, the Company received net proceeds of $14,556 from the issuance and sale of 1,174,827 shares of the Company’s common stock to Vifor (International) Ltd., or Vifor, in connection with the Company’s license agreement with VFMCRP (see Note 10, Collaborations and Licensing Agreements).

As of September 30, 2018, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of $206,077 and an accumulated deficit of $273,702. The Company has incurred substantial net losses and negative cash flows from operating activities in nearly every fiscal period since inception and expects this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. The Company recognized net losses of $19,400 and $12,444 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $53,361 and $43,948 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and had net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of $2,060 and $(43,414) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company is subject to risks common to other life science companies including, but not limited to, uncertainty of product development and commercialization, lack of marketing and sales history, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, dependence on key personnel, market acceptance of products, product liability, protection of proprietary technology, ability to raise additional financing, and compliance with Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and other government regulations.  If the Company does not successfully commercialize any of its product candidates, it will be unable to generate recurring product revenue or achieve profitability.  

2. Basis of Presentation

The unaudited interim condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Accordingly, they do not include all information and disclosures necessary for a presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. In the opinion of management, these unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of results for the periods presented. Certain amounts in the prior year’s condensed financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current-year presentation due to the adoption of certain accounting standards (see Note 2, Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted: ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash). The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted from this report, as is permitted by SEC rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The condensed balance sheet data for the year ended December 31, 2017 were derived from audited financial statements, but do not include all disclosures required by GAAP. These unaudited interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.  

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, as of the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from the Company’s estimates and assumptions. Significant estimates include the fair value of marketable securities that are classified as level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, useful lives of fixed assets, the periods over which certain revenues will be recognized, including licensing and collaborative revenue recognized from non-refundable up-front and milestone payments, the determination of prepaid research and development, or R&D, clinical costs and accrued research projects, the amount of non-cash compensation costs related to share-based payments to employees and non-employees and the periods over which those costs are expensed and the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets.

Significant Accounting Policies

There have been no material changes to the significant accounting policies previously disclosed in Note 2 to the Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, except for the recent adoption of new accounting pronouncements as disclosed below.

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), or ASC 606, as amended by ASU 2016-08, 2016-10, 2016-12 and 2016-20 using the full retrospective method. Under ASC 606, the Company recognizes revenue in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. To determine revenue recognition for contracts with customers that are within the scope of ASC 606, the Company performs the following steps: (1) identifies the contract with the customer, (2) identifies the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determines the transaction price, (4) allocates the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognizes revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company has concluded that upon adoption of ASC 606, as amended, there was no impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows for any period presented from its only two revenue-related contracts, which were in effect at that time: the CKDP Agreement or the Maruishi Agreement (see Note 10, Collaboration and Licensing Agreements and Note 11, Revenue Recognition).

The Company has entered into agreements to license its intellectual property, or IP, related to CR845/difelikefalin to develop, manufacture and/or commercialize drug products. These agreements typically contain multiple performance obligations, including licenses of IP and R&D services. Payments to the Company under these agreements may include nonrefundable license fees, payments for research activities, payments based upon the achievement of certain milestones and royalties on any resulting net product sales.

The Company identifies agreements as contracts that create enforceable rights and obligations when the agreement is approved by the parties, identifies the rights of the parties and the payment terms, has commercial substance and it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the goods and services that will be transferred to the customer. The counterparty is considered to be a customer when it has contracted with the Company to obtain goods and services that are the output of the Company’s ordinary activities (i.e., development of pharmaceutical products) in exchange for consideration.

A performance obligation is a promise to transfer distinct goods or services to a customer. Performance obligations that are both capable of being distinct and distinct within the context of the contract are considered to be separate performance obligations. Performance obligations are capable of being distinct if the counterparty is able to benefit from the good or service on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to it. Performance obligations are distinct within the context of the contract when each performance obligation is separately identifiable from each other; i.e., the Company is not using the goods or services as inputs to produce or deliver the combined output or outputs specified by the customer; one or more of the goods or services does not significantly modify or customize one of the other goods or services in the contract; and goods or services are not highly interdependent or not highly interrelated. Performance obligations that are not distinct are accounted for as a single performance obligation over the period that goods or services are transferred to the customer. The determination of whether performance obligations in a contract are distinct may require significant judgment.

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The transaction price is the amount of consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to the customer based on the contract terms at inception of a contract. There is a constraint on inclusion of variable consideration related to licenses of IP, such as milestone payments or sales-based royalty payments, in the transaction price if there is uncertainty at inception of the contract as to whether such consideration will be recognized in the future because it is probable that there will be a significant reversal of revenue in the future when the uncertainty is resolved. The determination of whether or not it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue will occur in the future depends on the likelihood and magnitude of the reversal.  Factors that could increase the likelihood or magnitude of a reversal of revenue include (a) the susceptibility of the amount of consideration to factors outside the entity’s influence, such as the outcome of clinical trials, the timing of initiation of clinical trials by the counterparty and the approval of drug product candidates by regulatory agencies, (b) situations in which the uncertainty is not expected to be resolved for a long period of time, and (c) level of the Company’s experience in the field. When it becomes probable that events will occur, for which variable consideration was constrained at inception of the contract, the Company allocates the related consideration to the separate performance obligations in the same manner as described below.  

At inception of a contract, the Company allocates the transaction price to the distinct performance obligations based upon their relative standalone selling prices. Standalone selling price is the price at which an entity would sell a promised good or service separately to a customer. The best evidence of standalone selling price is an observable price of a good or service when sold separately by an entity in similar circumstances to similar customers. Since the Company typically does not have such evidence, it estimates standalone selling price so that the amount that is allocated to each performance obligation equals the amount that the Company expects to receive for transferring goods or services. The methods that the Company uses to make such estimates include (1) the adjusted market assessment approach, under which the Company forecasts and analyzes CR845/difelikefalin in the appropriate market, the phase of clinical development as well as considering recent similar license arrangements within the same phase of clinical development, therapeutic area, type of agreement, etc. and (2) the expected cost of satisfying the performance obligations plus a margin, or the expected cost plus a margin approach.

The Company recognizes revenue when, or as, it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service to a customer and the customer obtains control of the good or service. Revenue related to the grant of a license that is a distinct performance obligation and that is deemed to be functional IP is recognized at the point in time that the Company has the right to payment for the license, the customer has legal title to the license and can direct the use of the license (for example, to grant sublicenses), the customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the license and the customer has accepted the asset (license) by signing the license agreement.

Recognition of revenue related to R&D services that are a distinct performance obligation or that are combined with granting of a license as a single performance obligation is deferred at inception of a contract and is recognized as those services are performed based on the costs incurred as a percentage of the estimated total costs to be incurred to complete the performance obligation.

Milestone payments are considered to be variable consideration and are not included in the transaction price at inception of the contract if it is uncertain that the milestone will be achieved. Rather, when it becomes probable that the milestone will be achieved and, therefore, there will not be a significant reversal of revenue in future periods, the respective amount to be earned is included in the transaction price, allocated to the distinct performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling price and recognized as revenue, as described above.  Sales milestones and sales-based royalty payments related to a license of IP are recognized as revenue when the respective sales occur.

Other Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

In August 2018, the SEC adopted amendments to certain disclosure requirements in Securities Act Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification. These amendments eliminate, modify, or integrate into other SEC requirements certain disclosure rules. Among the amendments is the requirement to present an analysis of changes in stockholders’ equity in the interim financial statements included in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The analysis, which can be presented as a footnote or separate statement, is required for the current and comparative quarter and year-to-date interim periods. The amendments are effective for all filings made on or after November 5, 2018. In light of the anticipated timing of effectiveness of the amendments and expected proximity of effectiveness to the filing date for most filers’ quarterly reports, the SEC’s Division of Corporate Finance issued a Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation related to Exchange Act Forms, or CDI – Question 105.09, that provides transition guidance related to this disclosure requirement. CDI – Question 105.09

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

states that the SEC would not object if the filer’s first presentation of the changes in shareholders’ equity is included in its Form 10-Q for the quarter that begins after the effective date of the amendments. As such, the Company adopted these SEC amendments on November 5, 2018 and will present the analysis of changes in stockholders’ equity in its interim financial statements in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2019. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of these SEC amendments will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows or shareholders’ equity.

As of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Scope of Modification Accounting, or ASU 2017-09, which clarifies that a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award should be accounted for as a modification only if the fair value, vesting conditions or classification (as equity or liability) of the award changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. Modification of a share-based payment award may result in the Company recognizing additional compensation expense. The Company generally has not modified, and does not expect to frequently modify, the fair value, vesting conditions or classification of its share-based payment awards.  The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, if and when modifications occur, their effect could be material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows (see Note 13, Stock-based Compensation).  

As of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Clarifying the Definition of a Business, or ASU 2017-01, that clarifies the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired or disposed of is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities is not a business. ASU 2017-01 also requires a business to include at least an input and one substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output and removes the evaluation of whether a market participant could replace missing elements. The adoption of ASU 2017-01 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

As of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force), or ASU 2016-18, which changes the presentation of the cash flow statement to include amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents, together with cash and cash equivalents, when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 also requires additional disclosures concerning the nature of the restrictions on cash and cash equivalents and a reconciliation between amounts of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on the balance sheet and statement of cash flows for each period presented. Upon adoption, ASU 2016-18 was applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company historically presented changes in restricted cash as an investing activity in the statement of cash flows. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-18, such changes are reflected in the beginning and ending balances of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash for all periods presented (see Note 6, Restricted Cash).

 

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, or ASU 2018-13, which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820 to remove the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels, and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 also amends Topic 820 to clarify that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date. ASU 2018-13 also requires additional disclosure for changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period as well as the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of ASU 2018-13. The Company will adopt ASU 2018-13, as applicable, on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect that the adoption of ASU 2018-13 will have a material effect on its results of operations, financial position, cash flows or footnote disclosures.  

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, or ASU 2018-07, which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards. Accordingly, under ASU 2018-07, the fair value of stock options granted to nonemployees will be measured only on the grant date, the amount of which will be recognized as compensation expense over the nonemployee’s service (vesting) period in the same period(s) and in the same manner as if the Company had paid cash for the goods or services instead of paying with or using share-based payment awards. On an award-by-award basis, the Company may elect to use the contractual term as the expected term when estimating the fair value of a nonemployee award to satisfy the measurement objective. Prior guidance under Subtopic 505-50 required the fair value of nonemployee stock options to be marked to market at each reporting period during the service period, which resulted in volatility of compensation expense during that period. ASU 2018-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than an entity’s adoption date of Topic 606. The Company will adopt ASU 2018-07 on January 1, 2019 on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity by remeasuring, on that date, the fair value of all outstanding unvested stock options that had been granted to nonemployees. The Company expects that the adoption of ASU 2018-07 will not have a material effect on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows because grants of stock options to nonemployees have been insignificant.  

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), or ASU 2016-02, which amends the current guidance for the accounting and disclosure of leases (ASC 840) for both lessees and lessors. The Company has completed its preliminary review of existing contracts and has identified one material contract that contains a lease. The primary effect of adoption will be the requirement to record a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease obligation for the Stamford operating lease (see Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies). ASU 2016-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 31, 2018 but may be adopted earlier. ASU 2016-02 requires modified retrospective adoption. However, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, or ASU 2018-11, which allows entities to elect an optional transition method by continuing to apply the guidance in ASC 840, including its disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented in the year that they adopt the new leases guidance in ASC 842. Entities that elect this optional transition method would record the cumulative effect of adoption on the effective date rather than at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 and ASU 2018-11 on January 1, 2019 using the optional transition method from ASU 2018-11. The Company does not expect that ASU 2016-02 or ASU 2018-11 will have a material impact on its Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Loss or its Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, but it does expect that upon adoption, it will have a material impact on the assets and liabilities on the Condensed Balance Sheets.    

 

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

3. Available-for-Sale Marketable Securities

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s available-for-sale marketable securities consisted of money market funds and debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury, U.S. government-sponsored entities and by investment grade institutions.

The following tables summarize the Company's available-for-sale marketable securities by major type of security as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

As of September 30, 2018

 

 

As of December 31, 2017

 

 

All available-for-sale marketable securities are classified in the Company’s Condensed Balance Sheets as Marketable securities.

The Company classifies its marketable debt securities based on their contractual maturity dates. As of September 30, 2018, the Company’s marketable debt securities mature at various dates through April 2019. The amortized cost and fair values of marketable debt securities by contractual maturity were as follows. The table does not include money market funds that are classified as available-for-sale marketable securities.

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company sold shares of a money market fund, that is classified as an available-for-sale marketable security, with a total fair value of $28,250. The cost of the money market fund shares that were sold was determined by specific identification. The sales of the shares of the money market fund resulted in a realized loss of $32.

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The following tables show the fair value of the Company's available-for-sale marketable securities that have unrealized losses and that are deemed to be only temporarily impaired, aggregated by investment category and length of time that the individual investments have been in a continuous unrealized loss position.

As of September 30, 2018

 

 

As of December 31, 2017

 

 

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company held a total of 26 out of 31 positions and 30 out of 31 positions, respectively, that were in an unrealized loss position, none of which had been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or greater. Based on the Company’s review of these securities, the Company believes that the cost basis of its available-for-sale marketable securities is recoverable and that, therefore, it had no other-than-temporary impairments on these securities as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The Company does not intend to sell these debt securities before maturity and the Company believes it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell these securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be maturity.  

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

4. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table summarizes the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), or AOCI, net of tax, from unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale marketable securities, the Company's only component of AOCI, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017.

 

 

The reclassifications out of AOCI and into net loss were as follows:

 

 

The amounts reclassified out of AOCI into net loss were determined by specific identification.

5. Fair Value Measurements

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company’s financial instruments consisted of cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale marketable securities, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Available-for-sale marketable securities are reported on the Company’s Condensed Balance Sheets as Marketable Securities at their fair values, based upon pricing of securities with the same or similar investment characteristics as provided by third-party pricing services, as described below.

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Current accounting guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with ASC section 820, and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. The valuation techniques included in the guidance are based on observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect readily obtainable data from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The Company classifies its investments in a fair value hierarchy that is intended to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The fair value hierarchy is divided into three levels based on the source of inputs as follows:

Valuation Techniques - Level 2 Inputs

The Company estimates the fair values of its financial instruments categorized as level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, including U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. government agency obligations, corporate bonds, commercial paper and money market funds with similar underlying investments, by taking into consideration valuations obtained from third-party pricing services. The pricing services use industry standard valuation models, including both income- and market-based approaches, for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, to estimate fair value. These inputs include reported trades of and broker/dealer quotes on the same or similar securities, benchmark yields, issuer credit spreads, benchmark securities, and other observable inputs. The Company obtains a single price for each financial instrument and does not adjust the prices obtained from the pricing service.

The Company validates the prices provided by its third-party pricing services by reviewing their pricing methods, obtaining market values from other pricing sources and comparing them to the share prices presented by the third-party pricing services. After completing its validation procedures, the Company did not adjust or override any fair value measurements provided by its third-party pricing services as of September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

The following tables summarize the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Fair value measurement as of September 30, 2018:

 

 

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2017:

 

 

There were no purchases, sales or maturities of Level 3 financial assets and no unrealized gains or losses related to Level 3 available-for-sale marketable securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. There were no transfers of financial assets between Levels 1, 2, or 3 classifications during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

6. Restricted Cash

The Company is required to maintain a stand-by letter of credit as a security deposit under its lease for its office space in Stamford, Connecticut (refer to Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies). The fair value of the letter of credit approximates its contract value. The Company’s bank requires the Company to maintain a restricted cash balance to serve as collateral for the letter of credit issued to the landlord by the bank. As of September 30, 2018, the restricted cash balance for the Stamford lease was invested in a commercial money market account. This balance is required to remain at $769 through May 2019 and may, upon request from the Company, thereafter be reduced to $408 through the end of the lease term in 2023. The reduction in the balance of the letter of credit for the Stamford lease is contingent upon the Company not being in default of any provisions of that lease prior to the request for the reduction. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $361 of restricted cash related to the Stamford lease in current assets and $408 in long-term assets. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $769 of restricted cash related to the Stamford lease in long-term assets.  

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the Condensed Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows.

 

 

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

7. Prepaid expenses

As of September 30, 2018, prepaid expenses were $4,218, consisting of $3,466 of prepaid R&D clinical costs, $505 of prepaid insurance and $247 of other prepaid costs. As of December 31, 2017, prepaid expenses were $1,635, consisting of $1,287 of prepaid R&D clinical costs, $124 of prepaid insurance, and $224 of other prepaid costs.  

8. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:

 

 

9. Stockholders’ Equity

 

On April 5, 2017, the Company closed an underwritten follow-on offering for 5,117,500 shares of its common stock, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 667,500 additional shares of its common stock. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $86,224, after deducting $5,891 relating to underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. This offering was made pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-216657), filed with the SEC on March 13, 2017 and declared effective on March 24, 2017, and a related prospectus dated March 24, 2017 and prospectus supplement dated March 30, 2017, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2017.  

 

On May 17, 2018, the Company issued 1,174,827 shares of its common stock to Vifor in connection with the license agreement entered into with VFMCRP (refer to Note 10, Collaboration and Licensing Agreements).

 

On July 18, 2018, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Jefferies LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, relating to the issuance and sale by the Company of up to 5,175,000 shares of its common stock, including 675,000 shares of common stock the underwriters had the option to purchase, at a public offering price of $19.00 per share. This offering was made pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-216657), filed with the SEC on March 13, 2017 and declared effective on March 24, 2017, and a related prospectus dated March 24, 2017 and prospectus supplement dated July 18, 2018, which was filed with the SEC on July 20, 2018.

On July 23, 2018, the Company closed the offering, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 675,000 additional shares of common stock. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $92,077, after deducting $6,248 relating to underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.

10. Collaboration and Licensing Agreements

 

Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd.

 

On May 17, 2018, the Company entered into a license agreement, or the VFMCRP Agreement, with VFMCRP under which the Company granted VFMCRP an exclusive, royalty-bearing license, or the VFMCRP License, to seek regulatory approval to commercialize, import, export, use, distribute, offer for sale, promote, sell and otherwise commercialize CR845/difelikefalin injection, or the Licensed Product, for all therapeutic uses to prevent, inhibit or treat itch associated with pruritus in hemodialysis and peritoneal-dialysis patients, or the Field, worldwide (excluding the United States, Japan and South Korea), or the Territory. VFMCRP cannot perform development activities on their own unless specifically allocated to VFMCRP by the Joint Development Committee, or JDC, and Joint Steering Committee, or JSC.  The Company’s membership on the JSC or JDC is at its sole discretion and is not its obligation.  

 

15

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The Company is responsible, at its own cost, to undertake clinical and non-clinical development, or the R&D services. The Company is also responsible to provide all content and subject matter expertise required for registration with the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, in the European Union, or the EU, that will be needed by VFMCRP for such registration, including participation in regulatory meetings, as needed. If third-party costs incurred by the Company with respect to its clinical development for the EMA registration exceed $20,000, such excess costs will be shared equally by the Company and VFMCRP. VFMCRP will contribute, at its own cost, its clinical development expertise as reasonably useful for such development activities, such as preparing the clinical results that the Company presents to it in a format acceptable to the EMA to obtain marketing approval in the EU.

 

The Company has identified two performance obligations under ASC 606: (1) granting of the VFMCRP License and (2) the R&D services. The Company has determined that these two performance obligations are not capable of being distinct (i.e., do not have standalone value for VFMCRP) because VFMCRP cannot benefit (derive potential cash flows) from either one on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to it since VFMCRP is relying on the Company’s expertise in investigating chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus, or CKD-aP, and its know-how obtained from multiple years of pre-clinical and clinical development, and years of interactions with the FDA which other companies or CROs would not have. The VFMCRP License does not provide benefit to VFMCRP until and unless the Company conducts the pivotal clinical trials and other supportive trials in CKD-aP to gather sufficient clinical data for VFMCRP to obtain marketing approval in the Territory. Furthermore, VFMCRP does not have the right to perform development activities on its own unless specifically allocated by the JDC or JSC.  

 

The two identified performance obligations are also not distinct within the context of the contract, (i.e., are not separately identifiable from each other) because of the nature of the promise within the context of the contract. The nature of the promise is to transfer a combined deliverable to VFMCRP based on the agreement (to support the ability of VFMCRP to commercialize the Licensed Product) and the Company determined that the VFMCRP License and the R&D services are inputs rather than a transfer of each of these goods and services individually. In addition, the two identified performance obligations are highly interrelated and interdependent because satisfaction of both performance obligations is required for VFMCRP to derive benefit from the VFMCRP Agreement for commercialization of the Licensed Product in the Territory. Therefore, the two performance obligations are not distinct from each other and are accounted for as a single performance obligation.

 

Upon entry into the VFMCRP Agreement, VFMCRP made a non-refundable, non-creditable $50,000 upfront payment to the Company and Vifor purchased 1,174,827 shares of the Company’s common stock, or the Vifor Shares, for $20,000 at a price of $17.024 per share, which represents a premium over a pre-determined average closing price of the Company’s common stock. The purchase of the Company’s common stock was governed by a separate stock purchase agreement. The excess of the stock purchase price over the cost of the Vifor Shares at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the purchase date of $5,444 was added to the upfront payment for accounting purposes.    

 

The Company is eligible to receive from VFMCRP regulatory and commercial milestone payments in the aggregate of up to $470,000, consisting of up to $30,000 in regulatory milestones and up to $440,000 in tiered commercial milestones, all of which are sales-related. The Company is also eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalty payments based on annual net sales, as defined in the VFMCRP Agreement, of CR845/difelikefalin injection in the Licensed Territories.  The Company retains full commercialization rights for CR845/difelikefalin injection for the treatment of CKD-aP in the United States except in the dialysis clinics of Fresenius Medical Care North America, or FMCNA, where VFMCRP and the Company will promote CR845/difelikefalin injection under a profit-sharing arrangement (subject to the terms and conditions of the VFMCRP Agreement) based on net FMCNA clinic sales recorded by the Company.  

 

 

At inception of the VFMCRP Agreement, there was significant uncertainty as to whether marketing approval would be obtained in the Territory for the Licensed Product. Therefore, at that time, there was a significant probability that any potential revenue from sales of the Licensed Product that would be included in the transaction price would be reversed when the uncertainty is resolved. Consequently, any sales royalties and sales milestones are constrained from the transaction price at inception of the VFMCRP Agreement and will be recognized as revenue if, and when, such sales transactions occur in the future.

 

16

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

At inception of the VFMCRP Agreement, the transaction price of $55,444 was allocated entirely to the one combined performance obligation, as described above, and was initially recorded as deferred revenue. License and milestone revenue will be recognized proportionately as the R&D services are conducted (i.e., prior to submission of an NDA).  

 

The license also requires VFMCRP to promote and take orders in the U.S. for sale by the Company to FMC U.S. Dialysis Clinics and allows VFMCRP to grant sub-licenses, which, in certain cases, requires the Company’s prior written consent. The Company retains the rights to import, distribute, promote, sell and otherwise commercialize the Licensed Product outside of the Field and outside of the Territory.

 

The Company retains the rights to make and have made the Licensed Product in the Territory for commercial sale by VFMCRP in the Field in or outside the Territory and for supply of Licensed Product to VFMCRP under the terms of a supply agreement, or the Supply Agreement. The supply price will be the Company’s cost of goods sold, as calculated under U.S. GAAP, plus an agreed upon margin. The Supply Agreement will co-terminate with the VFMCRP Agreement. In regards to a supply agreement, the VFMCRP Agreement only includes a requirement for the Company to negotiate in good faith with VFMCRP. After the execution of the VFMCRP Agreement, a separate agreement to supply them with the Licensed Product would be entered into, although the Company has no obligation to execute a supply agreement. In the event that the parties fail to enter into a Supply Agreement or if the Company fails to provide Licensed Product on a timely basis, VFMCRP has the right to manufacture or have manufactured the Licensed Product in and outside the Territory.       

The Supply Agreement will be accounted for as a customer option that is not a material right because the selling price of the Licensed Product under the Supply Agreement is the Company’s cost of goods sold plus an agreed upon margin, which is commensurate with the “cost of goods sold plus” model that the Company would charge other parties under similar agreements (the standalone selling price) and not at a discount. Therefore, the sale of clinical compound to VFMCRP is not a performance obligation under the VFMCRP Agreement but rather the Supply Agreement is a separate agreement from the VFMCRP Agreement. The only performance obligation under the Supply Agreement is the delivery of the Licensed Product to VFMCRP for commercialization. Revenue from the sale of the Licensed Product to VFMCRP will be recognized as Clinical Supply revenue in the Company’s Statements of Comprehensive Loss as sales of the Licensed Product occur. As of September 30, 2018, no supply agreement has been entered into between the Company and VFMCRP.

 

The VFMCRP Agreement terminates upon the expiration of all royalty terms with respect to the Licensed Products, which expire on a Product-by-Product and country-by-country basis, at the latest of (a) the expiration of all patent rights licensed to VFMCRP covering such Licensed Product; (b) the expiration of all regulatory and data exclusivity applicable to such Licensed Product in such country and (c) the tenth anniversary of the first commercial sale of such Product in such country.

The VFMCRP Agreement may be terminated earlier by either party for material breach that is not cured within 60 days, bankruptcy by either party and by both parties upon mutual written consent. The Company may terminate the VFMCRP Agreement if VFMCRP challenges the validity of any licensed patent rights, except if such patent challenge results from the Company’s action against VFMCRP for infringement of any licensed patent in the Territory. In addition, upon the earlier of (1) the acceptance for filing of an NDA covering Licensed Product filed with the FDA (after completion of the Phase 3 program) or (2) the third anniversary of the Effective Date, the VFMCRP Agreement may be terminated by VFMCRP in its entirety or with respect to any countries within the Territory upon written notice to the Company. Such termination will be effective twelve months following the date of such notice.

 

If the VFMCRP Agreement terminates early for any reason stated above, VFMCRP’s licenses will terminate, VFMCRP’s rights to use the Company’s confidential information and the Company’s know-how will revert to the Company and VFMCRP will assign and transfer to the Company all right, title and interest in all regulatory applications (IND’s and NDA’s), regulatory approval applications and regulatory approvals in the Territory covering Licensed Product.  

17

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Maruishi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

In April 2013, the Company entered into a license agreement with Maruishi, or the Maruishi Agreement, under which the Company granted Maruishi an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize drug products containing CR845/difelikefalin for acute pain and/or uremic pruritus in Japan. Maruishi has the right to grant sub-licenses in Japan, which entitles the Company to receive sub-license fees, net of prior payments made by Maruishi to the Company. Under the Maruishi Agreement, the Company and Maruishi are required to use commercially reasonable efforts, at their own expense, to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize CR845/difelikefalin in the United States and Japan, respectively. In addition, the Company provided Maruishi specific clinical development services for CR845/difelikefalin used in Maruishi’s field of use.

Under the Maruishi Agreement, the Company identified two performance obligations in accordance with ASC 606: (1) the license; and (2) the R&D services specific to the uremic pruritus field of use (specified as Phase 1 and proof-of-concept clinical trials), both of which were determined to have standalone value. The Company determined that these performance obligations had standalone value due to the fact that Maruishi obtained the right to develop the compound on its own and the Company was specifically contracted to perform specific R&D services as noted above. The Company believes that these early stage R&D services performed by the Company did not require any specific expertise or know-how, but rather could have been completed by outside third parties, therefore providing standalone value to Maruishi.

In March 2017, Maruishi entered into a sub-license agreement with Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for the development and sales/marketing of CR845/difelikefalin (called MR13A9 by Maruishi) for the treatment of uremic pruritus in dialysis patients in Japan. Consequently, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized revenue of $843 related to the sub-license fee. The Company allocated the amount of the sub-license fee to each of the two identified performance obligations in the same proportion as the upfront license fee that the Company received at inception of the Maruishi Agreement. Accordingly, $530 was recognized as license and milestone fees revenue and $313 was recognized as collaborative revenue.

During the three and nine months ended September 31, 2018, the Company recognized clinical compound revenue of $33 from the sale of clinical compound to Maruishi. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized clinical compound revenue of $68 from the sale of clinical compound to Maruishi. There were no sales of clinical compound during the three months ended September 30, 2017.

The Company incurred R&D expense related to the Maruishi Agreement of $30, consisting of cost of clinical compound, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Company incurred R&D expense related to the Maruishi Agreement of $61, consisting of cost of clinical compound, during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The Company did not incur any R&D expense for clinical compound during the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation

In April 2012, the Company entered into a license agreement, or the CKDP Agreement, with Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation, or CKDP, in South Korea, under which the Company granted CKDP an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize drug products containing CR845/difelikefalin in South Korea. The Company and CKDP are each required to use commercially reasonable efforts, at their respective expense, to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize CR845/difelikefalin in the United States and South Korea, respectively. The Company identified the granting of the license as its only performance obligation under the CKDP Agreement.

Under the terms of the CKDP Agreement, the Company is eligible to receive milestone payments upon the achievement of defined clinical and regulatory events as well as tiered royalties, with percentages ranging from the high single digits to the high teens, based on net sales of products containing CR845/difelikefalin in South Korea, if any, and share in any sub-license fees.  

 

18

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

11. Revenue Recognition

The Company currently recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, as amended, for the VFMCRP, Maruishi and CKDP agreements (see Note 10, Collaboration and Licensing Agreements). Under each of these agreements, the Company has recognized revenue from upfront payments and, under the Maruishi Agreement and the CKDP Agreement, from clinical development milestone payments. The Company has also recognized revenue from a sub-license payment earned under the Maruishi Agreement. Under the Maruishi Agreement and the CKDP Agreement, the Company may earn additional future milestone payments upon the achievement of defined clinical events, and under the VFMCRP Agreement, the Maruishi Agreement and the CKDP Agreement upon the achievement of defined regulatory events and, under the VFMCRP Agreement and the Maruishi Agreement, from sales milestones. The Company may also recognize revenue in the future from royalties on net sales under all three agreements. In addition, the Company has recognized revenue upon the delivery of clinical compound to Maruishi in accordance with separate supply agreements.  

Contract balances

 

As of September 30, 2018, the Company had deferred revenue, current of $29,242 and deferred revenue, non-current of $18,300 related to the performance obligations from the VFMCRP Agreement and had no balances of receivables or other assets related to the VFMCRP Agreement. There were no balances of receivables, other assets or deferred revenue relating to the Maruishi and CKDP agreements as of September 30, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had no balances of receivables, other assets or deferred revenue related to the Maruishi and CKDP Agreements.

Performance obligations

 

Under the VFMCRP Agreement, the Company’s performance obligations of granting a license to allow VFMCRP to commercialize CR845/difelikefalin injection worldwide, except in the United States, Japan and South Korea, which occurred at inception of the contract in May 2018, and performing R&D services by the Company to obtain sufficient clinical data which will be shared with VFMCRP to allow them to receive regulatory approval to sell CR845/difelikefalin in the licensed territory, are not distinct, and are accounted for as a single performance obligation during the period that the R&D services are rendered (see Note 10, Collaboration and Licensing Agreements).

The Company’s distinct performance obligations under the Maruishi Agreement include transfer of the license to the Company’s IP, which allowed Maruishi to develop and commercialize CR845/difelikefalin, for acute pain and uremic pruritus indications in Japan, which occurred at inception of the contract in 2013, and performance of R&D services, which occurred from 2013 to 2015, as those services were rendered. The Company agreed to conduct limited work on an oral tablet formulation of CR845/difelikefalin and to conduct Phase 1 and proof-of-concept Phase 2 clinical trials of an intravenous formulation of CR845/difelikefalin to be used to treat patients with uremic pruritus. The Company agreed to transfer the data and information from such development to Maruishi for its efforts to obtain regulatory approval in Japan. These activities are referred to as R&D services.

19

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The Company’s only performance obligation under the supply agreement with Maruishi is to deliver clinical compound to Maruishi in accordance with the receipt of purchase orders. If and when the Company enters into a supply agreement with VFMCRP, the Company’s only performance obligation under this supply agreement would be to deliver CR845/difelikefalin injection to VFMCRP in accordance with the receipt of purchase orders.

Under the CKDP Agreement, the Company’s only performance obligation is to transfer the license to the Company’s IP related to CR845/difelikefalin, which occurred at inception of the contract in 2012.

Upon execution of the VFMCRP Agreement, the Maruishi Agreement and the CKDP Agreement, the Company received a single fixed payment from each counterparty in exchange for granting the respective licenses and performing its other obligations. In addition, each of the counterparties made an equity investment in the Company’s common stock.

Transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations    

At inception of the VFMCRP Agreement, the entire transaction price of $55,444 was allocated to the one combined performance obligation, as described above. As of September 30, 2018, $7,903 of that amount was recognized as license and milestone fees revenue based on the percentage of R&D services that had been completed. As of September 30, 2018, there were no remaining performance obligations under either the Maruishi Agreement or the CKDP Agreement, although the Company is eligible to receive milestone payments and sales royalties in the future.  

Significant judgments

In applying ASC 606, as amended, to its three contracts, the Company made the following judgments that significantly affect the timing and amount of revenue recognition:

 

The VFMCRP Agreement contains one distinct performance obligation, which includes the Company’s two performance obligations to grant a license to VFMCRP and conduct R&D services. Both of those performance obligations are inputs to the promise, within the context of the contract, to transfer a combined output for which VFMCRP has contracted (the ability of VFMCRP to commercialize the Licensed Product) (see Note 10, Collaboration and Licensing Agreements, for further discussion).

The Maruishi Agreement contains two distinct performance obligations: the granting of the license and the promise to deliver defined R&D services. Under the Maruishi Agreement, the license and the R&D services represent distinct goods or services from each other because Maruishi is able to benefit from the license on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to it (i.e., capable of being distinct).  Maruishi’s ability to benefit from the license without the R&D services is indicated by its ability to conduct clinical trials of CR845/difelikefalin on its own and by the provision in the Maruishi Agreement whereby if the Company suspends or discontinues its development activity, the Company will provide information regarding its development efforts up to that point so that Maruishi may continue development and commercialization of the product in Japan. Therefore, the R&D services do not significantly affect Maruishi’s ability to use and benefit from the license.

In addition, the Company’s promise in the Maruishi contract to transfer the license is separately identifiable from the promise to provide defined R&D services (i.e., distinct within the context of the contract) because the Company is not using the goods or services as inputs to produce or deliver the combined output or outputs specified by the customer. The combined output specified by Maruishi is its right to conduct development activities related to CR845/difelikefalin in Japan, which could result in regulatory approval in Japan. That right is derived from the Company’s grant of the license. Maruishi is conducting clinical trials on its own and does not require the R&D services provided by the Company. Furthermore, the R&D services do not significantly modify or customize the license and vice versa. Finally, the license and R&D services are not highly interdependent or highly interrelated because the Company is able to fulfill its promise to transfer the initial license independently from its promise to subsequently provide the R&D services, which Maruishi can obtain on its own.

20

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The only performance obligation in the CKDP Agreement is the granting of the license.

The transaction price is the amount of consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for transferring promised goods or services to the customer. The transaction price must be determined at inception of a contract and may include amounts of variable consideration. However, there is a constraint on inclusion of variable consideration, such as milestone payments or sales-based royalty payments, in the transaction price related to licenses of IP, if there is uncertainty at inception of the contract as to whether such consideration will be recognized in the future (see Note 2, Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted: Revenue Recognition).  

The decision as to whether or not it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue will occur in the future, depends on the likelihood and magnitude of the reversal and is highly susceptible to factors outside the entity’s influence (for example, the Company cannot determine the outcome of clinical trials; the Company cannot determine if or when they or the counterparty will initiate or complete clinical trials; and the Company’s ability to obtain regulatory approval is difficult). In addition, the uncertainty is not expected to be resolved for a long period of time (in the order of years) and finally, the Company has limited experience in the field.

Therefore, at inception of the VFMCRP Agreement, the Maruishi Agreement and the CKDP Agreement, milestones and sales-based royalty payments were not included in the transaction price based on the factors noted above.

 

Under the VFMCRP Agreement, the single combined performance obligation will be satisfied as the R&D services are rendered and the transaction price, including the upfront payment of $50,000 and the premium on the common stock purchased by VFMCRP of $5,444, will be recognized as revenue as the R&D services are performed based on the costs incurred as a percentage of the estimated total costs to be incurred to complete the performance obligation. The remaining potential consideration was considered to be variable consideration and was constrained at inception of the contract, including regulatory and sales milestones and sales royalties (see Note 10, Collaboration and Licensing Agreements).

All performance obligations under the Maruishi Agreement and the CKDP Agreement were satisfied by the end of 2015. In the future, any milestone event will be recognized in accordance with Note 2, Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted: Revenue Recognition, as milestone and license fee revenue and collaboration revenue based upon the relative standalone selling prices of the two performance obligations at inception of the Maruishi Agreement, and as milestone and license fee revenue under the CKDP Agreement.  

Under the Maruishi Agreement, the transaction price includes only the non-refundable and non-creditable upfront license fee of $15,337, including the premium of $337 from the sale of Company stock to Maruishi, that was paid to the Company at inception of the contract. The remaining potential consideration was considered to be variable consideration and was constrained at inception of the contract, including an aggregate of up to $10,500, which the Company is eligible to receive upon achievement of clinical development and regulatory milestones, a one-time sales milestone of one billion Yen when a certain sales level is attained; a mid-double-digit percentage of all non-royalty payments received by Maruishi from its sub-licensees, if any; and tiered royalties based on net sales of products containing CR845/difelikefalin in Japan, if any, with minimum royalty rates in the low double digits and maximum royalty rates in the low twenties.  

Under the CKDP Agreement, the transaction price includes only the non-refundable and non-creditable upfront license fee of $646, including the premium of $83 from the sale of Company stock to CKDP, that was paid to the Company at inception of the contract. The remaining consideration was considered to be variable consideration and was constrained at inception of the contract, including an aggregate of up to $3,750, which the Company is eligible to earn upon achievement of clinical development and regulatory milestones.  The Company is also eligible to receive a mid-double-digit percentage of all non-royalty payments received by CKDP from its sub-licensees, if any, and tiered royalties ranging from the high single digits to the high teens based on net sales of products containing CR845/difelikefalin in South Korea, if any.

21

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

In order to recognize revenue under ASC 606, as amended, for contracts for which more than one distinct performance obligation has been identified, the Company must allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations based upon their standalone selling prices. The best evidence of standalone selling price is an observable price of a good or service when sold separately by an entity in similar circumstances to similar customers. If such evidence is not available, standalone selling price should be estimated so that the amount that is allocated to each performance obligation equals the amount that the entity expects to receive for transferring goods or services. The Company has identified more than one performance obligation only in the Maruishi Agreement. Since evidence based on observable prices is not available for the performance obligations under the Maruishi Agreement, the Company considered market conditions and entity-specific factors, including those contemplated in negotiating the agreements, as well as certain internally developed estimates.  

At inception of the Maruishi Agreement, the Company determined the estimate of standalone selling price for the license performance obligation by using the adjusted market assessment approach. Under this method, the Company forecasted and analyzed CR845/difelikefalin in the Japanese market, the phase of clinical development as well as considered recent similar license arrangements within the same phase of clinical development, therapeutic area, type of agreement, etc. To estimate the standalone selling price of the R&D services, the Company forecasted its expected costs of satisfying that performance obligation and added a margin for that service.

At inception of the Maruishi Agreement, the Company allocated the transaction price of $15,337 between the two performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling prices, determined as described above. The Company determined that the license and the R&D services had estimated standalone selling prices of $10,200 and $6,200, respectively. The resulting percentage allocations were applied to the $15,337 of total transaction price, which resulted in $9,637 being allocated to the license performance obligation, which was recognized immediately as license revenue, while $5,700 was allocated to the R&D services performance obligation. The amount allocated to the R&D services performance obligation was initially recorded as deferred revenue and was recognized as collaborative revenue as the R&D services were provided through July 2015.    

Since both the VFMCRP Agreement and the CKDP Agreement each contain only one distinct performance obligation, at the inception of each of those agreements, the entire transaction price was allocated to the respective performance obligation.

Revenue should be recognized when, or as, an entity satisfies a performance obligation by transferring a promised good or service to a customer; i.e., when the customer obtains control of the good or service. The licenses granted to both Maruishi and CKDP are being accounted for as distinct performance obligations. As discussed below, both licenses relate to functional IP for which revenue is recognized at a point in time – in the case of these two license agreements, the point in time is at inception of the contract because the customer obtained control of the license at that point.  

The licenses grant Maruishi and CKDP the right to use the Company’s IP relating to CR845/difelikefalin as it existed at the point in time that the licenses were granted. That IP has significant standalone functionality as it provides the customer with the ability to perform a function or task, such as to manufacture CR845/difelikefalin and conduct clinical trials, and is considered to be functional IP.

During the license periods, the Company is continuing to develop and advance CR845/difelikefalin by conducting clinical trials. Those development efforts are for its own benefit and do not substantively change the significant standalone functionality of the licensed IP granted to Maruishi or CKDP. Therefore, the Company’s ongoing development efforts do not significantly affect the IP’s utility to which Maruishi or CKDP have rights. Furthermore, if the Company abandons its development efforts, Maruishi or CKDP may still continue to develop CR845/difelikefalin in their respective countries.  

22

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The R&D services performance obligation under the Maruishi Agreement represents a separate performance obligation. The R&D services were provided to Maruishi by the Company from inception of the agreement in 2013 through the third quarter of 2015, at which time the Company had fulfilled its promise related to the R&D services. Revenue related to the R&D services performance obligation was recognized as services were performed based on the costs incurred as a percentage of the estimated total costs to be incurred to complete the performance obligation.

 

Similarly, under the VFMCRP Agreement, revenue related to the single distinct performance obligation, which includes both granting of the license and performance of the R&D services, will be recognized as the R&D services are performed, based on the costs incurred as a percentage of the estimated total costs to be incurred to complete the performance obligation. The Company expects that the remaining amount of the transaction price that was allocated to the combined performance obligation of $47,542 at September 30, 2018 will be recognized by 2020, as the R&D services are performed, subject to certain development and regulatory uncertainties.

The VFMCRP Agreement, the Maruishi Agreement and the CKDP Agreement contain potential payments related to achievement of defined milestone events and royalties upon net sales of future products, which are considered to be variable consideration because of the uncertainty of occurrence of any of those events specified in those agreements at inception of the agreements. Therefore, those potential payments were not included in the transaction price at the inception of the agreements.

Revenue related to achievement of milestone events is recognized when the Company has determined that it is probable that a milestone event will be achieved and there will not be a significant reversal of revenue in future periods. Upon probability of achievement of a milestone event, the most likely amount of variable consideration is included in the transaction price. Subsequent changes to the transaction price, after contract initiation, are allocated to the performance obligations in the contract on the same basis as at contract inception. Revenue for variable consideration is recognized in the same manner (point in time or over time) as for the performance obligations to which the payment amounts were allocated.

The Maruishi Agreement and the CKDP Agreement specify that certain development milestones will be achieved at pre-specified defined phases of a clinical trial (such as initiation or completion or other pre-specified time during a clinical trial as specified in the agreements).

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, no milestone events were probable of occurrence or achieved.

Sublicense payments

VFMCRP’s, Maruishi’s and CKDP’s right to grant sub-licenses is explicitly stated in their respective license agreements. The amount of any potential sub-license fees to be received by the Company, which is based on a formula, is considered to be variable consideration and is constrained from inclusion in the transaction price at inception of the contract since at that time it was probable that there would be a reversal of such revenue in the future because the Company did not know if a sublicense would be granted in the future.

In March 2017, Maruishi entered into a sub-license agreement to the Maruishi Agreement with another pharmaceutical company in Japan for development and sales/marketing of CR845/difelikefalin for the treatment of uremic pruritus in dialysis patients in Japan. The Company first learned that the terms of the sub-license agreement had been finalized less than a month before the sub-licensee publicly announced the agreement. At that time, the Company determined that the sub-license fee would not be constrained from inclusion in the transaction price. Consequently, the Company included the amount of the sub-license fee in the transaction price and recognized revenue of $843 in the same manner as described above for milestone payments.

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Sales-based Royalty Payments

The VFMCRP Agreement, CKDP Agreement and Maruishi Agreement each allow the Company to earn sales-based royalty payments in exchange for a license of intellectual property. In that case, the Company will recognize revenue for a sales-based royalty only when (or as) the later of the following events occurs:

Since the sale (item a, above) occurs after the license was delivered (item b, above), the sales-based royalty exception, to exclude such royalty payments from the transaction price, applies to the overall revenue stream. Therefore, sales-based royalty payments are recognized as revenue when the customer’s sales occur. To date, no royalties have been earned or were otherwise due to the Company.

 

12. Net Loss Per Share

The Company computes basic net income (loss) per share by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted net income per share includes the potential dilutive effect of common stock equivalents as if such securities were exercised during the period, when the effect is dilutive. Common stock equivalents may include outstanding stock options or restricted stock units, which are included using the treasury stock method when dilutive. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company excluded the effects of potentially dilutive shares that were outstanding during those respective periods from the denominator as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive due to the Company’s net losses during those periods.

The denominators used in the net loss per share computations are as follows:

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per share are computed as follows:

 

 

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

As of September 30, 2018 and 2017, 3,780,390 and 3,492,786 stock options, respectively, were outstanding, which could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future, but were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive. In addition, 83,791 restricted stock units granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were also not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because to do would have been anti-dilutive (see Note 13, Stock-Based Compensation).

 

13. Stock-Based Compensation  

2014 Equity Incentive Plan

The Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2014 Plan, is administered by the Company’s Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, referred to as the Plan administrator. The 2014 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, stock appreciation rights, performance stock awards and other forms of equity compensation, collectively referred to as Stock Awards. Additionally, the 2014 Plan provides for the grant of performance cash awards. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees. All other awards may be granted to employees, including officers, non-employee directors, and consultants. No incentive stock options may be granted under the 2014 Plan after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2014 Plan. Stock Awards granted under the 2014 Plan vest at the rate specified by the Plan administrator. Initial grants of Stock Awards made to employees and non-employee consultants generally vest as to 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the balance ratably over the next 36 months and subsequent grants vest monthly over a period of four years from the grant date. Stock options initially granted to members of the Company’s Board of Directors vest over a period of three years in equal installments from the date of the grant, subject to the option holder’s continued service as a Director through such date. Subsequent grants to Directors that are made automatically at Annual Meetings of Stockholders vest fully on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The Plan administrator determines the term of Stock Awards granted under the 2014 Plan up to a maximum of ten years.    

The aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan has automatically increased on January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2015 and will continue to increase on January 1 of each year through and including January 1, 2024, by 3% of the total number of shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. On January 1, 2018, the aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to stock awards under the 2014 Plan automatically increased from 3,920,613 to 4,900,481. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options under the 2014 Plan is 30,000,000 shares.

Restricted Stock Units

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company granted a total of 83,791 restricted stock units to executive officers under the 2014 Plan with a grant date fair value of $20.21 per share. Vesting of the restricted stock units is contingent on the achievement of certain performance targets through the first quarter of 2019, subject to the recipient’s continuous service through the vesting events. The Company has determined that the probability of achievement of the performance targets cannot be determined until they are achieved, and accordingly, the Company intends to recognize compensation expense associated with these awards when, and to the extent, the restricted stock units vest in accordance with achievement of the performance targets. As of September 30, 2018, none of the performance targets had been achieved and, consequently, none of the restricted stock units had vested and no compensation expense has been recognized.

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Stock Options

Under the 2014 Plan, the Company granted 165,000 and 415,000 stock options during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and 897,500 and 1,253,500 stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The fair values of stock options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were estimated as of the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:  

 

 

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted to employees, non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors for their Board service and non-employee consultants during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $14.51 and $10.00, respectively, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $11.25 and $11.61, respectively.

As of September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company used the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following ranges of assumptions to re-measure the fair value of all outstanding options that had been granted to non-employee consultants during the vesting period of each tranche in accordance with ASC 505-50:  

 

 

The weighted-average fair value of outstanding options that had been granted to non-employee consultants, as re-measured during the vesting period of each tranche in accordance with ASC 505-50, was $20.48 and $8.31 as of September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

On January 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, or ASU 2016-09. On the date of adoption of ASU 2016-09, the Company began to account for forfeitures of unvested stock options as they occur rather than estimate forfeiture rates that were applied to unvested stock option awards, as under the previous accounting guidance. Accordingly, on the date of adoption, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to stockholders’ equity of $45 for all stock option awards that were unvested as of that date.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized compensation expense in the accompanying Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Loss relating to stock options, as follows:  

 

 

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Included in the table above are the following amounts of compensation expense recognized with regard to stock options that were granted to non-employee consultants, including the effect of re-measurement of the fair values of those options, as described above:

 

 

A summary of stock option award activity related to employees, non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors and non-employee consultants as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is presented below:

 

 

The Company does not expect to realize any tax benefits from its stock option activity or the recognition of stock-based compensation expense because the Company currently has net operating losses and has a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. Accordingly, no amounts related to excess tax benefits have been reported in cash flows from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.  

 

14. Income Taxes

For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, pre-tax losses were $19,466 and $12,589, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, pre-tax losses were $53,625 and $44,126, respectively. The Company recognized a full tax valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017, the tax benefit related to the exercise of stock options is recognized as a deferred tax asset that is offset by a corresponding valuation allowance.

The benefit from income taxes of $66 and $145 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $264 and $178 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively relates to state R&D tax credits exchanged for cash pursuant to the Connecticut R&D Tax Credit Exchange Program, which permits qualified small businesses engaged in R&D activities within Connecticut to exchange their unused R&D tax credits for a cash amount equal to 65% of the value of the exchanged credits.  

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Act. The Act, which is also commonly referred to as “U.S. tax reform”, significantly changed U.S. corporate income tax laws by, among other provisions, reducing the maximum U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% starting in 2018. In accordance with the reduction in U.S. corporate income tax rate during the period of enactment, the Company reduced its deferred tax assets, which were offset by a corresponding reduction to its valuation allowance. On September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company did not have any foreign subsidiaries and the international aspects of the Act are not applicable for the respective periods.

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CARA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

On December 22, 2017, Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, or SAB 118, was issued by the SEC due to the complexities involved in accounting for the Act. SAB 118 requires the Company to include in its financial statements a reasonable estimate of the impact of the Act on earnings to the extent such estimate has been determined. Accordingly, the Company’s annual estimated effective tax rate for the year ending December 31, 2018 is based on the reasonable estimate guidance provided by SAB 118. The Company is continuing to assess the impact from the Act and will record adjustments in 2018, if necessary.

15. Commitments and Contingencies  

Contractual obligations and commitments as of September 30, 2018, consisting of future minimum lease payments under the Company’s Stamford lease, were as follows:

 

 

Stamford Operating Lease

In December 2015, the Company entered into a lease agreement, or the Stamford Lease, with Four Stamford Plaza Owner LLC, or the Landlord, for office space in Stamford, Connecticut, or the Premises, for the purpose of relocating its headquarters. The initial term of the Stamford Lease commenced in May 2016, or the Commencement Date, and ends in November 2023. The Stamford Lease requires monthly lease payments, including rent escalations and rent holidays, during the initial lease term. The Company began to make rental payments from the Commencement Date. The Company records monthly rent expense on a straight-line basis from March 2016, upon taking possession of the Premises, through November 2023. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the balance of deferred lease obligation, representing the difference between cash rent paid and straight-line rent expense, was $895 and $876, respectively. The Stamford Lease is renewable for one five-year term.  

As of the Commencement Date, the Stamford landlord had made tenant improvements of approximately $1,094 to the leased premises. Such amount was included in Property and equipment, net and in Deferred lease obligation on the Company’s Balance Sheet on that date. The portion of Deferred lease obligation that is related to tenant improvements is being amortized as a reduction to rent expense over the same term as rent expense. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the balance of Deferred lease obligation related to tenant improvements was $734 and $842, respectively.

In connection with the signing of the Stamford Lease, the Company entered into a standby letter of credit agreement for $769, which serves as a security deposit for the Premises. The standby letter of credit is automatically renewed annually through November 2023. This standby letter of credit is secured with restricted cash in a money market account (refer to Note 6, Restricted Cash).  

16. Subsequent Event

 

On October 18, 2018, the Company and its then Chief Medical Officer, or CMO, agreed to the transition of the role from CMO to a consultant. On October 22, 2018, the Company and the former CMO entered into a Separation and Consulting Agreement, pursuant to which the former CMO will provide consulting services to the Company for a period of up to nine months. Effective October 22, 2018, a new CMO was appointed by the Company.

 

 

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” or “would,” and or the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology intended to identify statements about the future. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our expectations of the future, about which we cannot be certain.  

The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include, among other things, statements about:

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You should refer to Part I Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame or at all. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.  

You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents that we reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and have filed as exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.  

The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with: (i) the Condensed Financial Statements and related notes thereto which are included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; and (ii) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Introduction

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities designed to alleviate pruritus and pain by selectively targeting peripheral kappa opioid receptors. We are developing a novel and proprietary class of product candidates, led by KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin), a first-in-class kappa opioid receptor agonist that targets the body’s peripheral nervous system, as well as certain immune cells.

 

In Phase 2 trials, KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection (intravenous formulation) has demonstrated statistically significant reductions in itch intensity and concomitant improvement in pruritus-related quality of life measures in hemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe CKD-aP, and is currently being investigated in Phase 3 trials in hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP. We have partnered with VFMCRP, a joint venture between Vifor Pharma Group and Fresenius Medical Care, to commercialize KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in dialysis patients with CKD-aP worldwide, excluding the United States, Japan (Maruishi), and South Korea (CKDP). We retain all rights in the United States and will promote KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection, if approved, with VFMCRP in U.S. Fresenius Medical Care North America, or FMCNA, dialysis clinics under a profit share agreement. CR845/difelikefalin has also demonstrated efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe pain in the post-operative setting, without inducing many of the undesirable side effects typically associated with currently available opioid pain therapeutics. We retain rights to all KORSUVA/CR845 formulations and indications worldwide, excluding KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in dialysis patients with CKD-aP under our agreement with VFMCRP for certain ex-U.S. territories and our other license agreements for CR845/difelikefalin in Japan (Maruishi) and South Korea (CKDP).  

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has conditionally accepted KORSUVA as the trade name for CR845/difelikefalin injection and its safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority.

We commenced operations in 2004, and our primary activities to date have been organizing and staffing our company, developing our product candidates, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials of CR845/difelikefalin-based product candidates, and raising capital. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through sales of our equity and debt securities and payments from license agreements. We have no products currently available for sale, and substantially all of our revenue to date has been revenue from license agreements, although we have received nominal amounts of revenue under research grants.

 

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Recent Developments

 

Chief Medical Officer

 

On October 18, 2018, we and our then Chief Medical Officer, or CMO, agreed to the transition of his role from CMO to a consultant. On October 22, 2018, we entered into a Separation and Consulting Agreement with our former CMO, pursuant to which he will provide consulting services to us for a period of up to nine months. Effective October 22, 2018, we appointed a new CMO.

 

Equity Offering

 

On July 18, 2018, we entered into an underwriting agreement with Jefferies LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, relating to the issuance and sale by us of up to 5,175,000 shares of our common stock, including 675,000 shares of common stock the underwriters had the option to purchase, at a public offering price of $19.00 per share. This offering was pursuant to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-216657), filed with the SEC on March 13, 2017 and declared effective on March 24, 2017, and a related prospectus dated March 24, 2017 and prospectus supplement dated July 18, 2018, which was filed with the SEC on July 20, 2018.

 

On July 23, 2018, we closed the offering, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 675,000 additional shares of common stock. We received net proceeds of approximately $92.1 million, after deducting $6.2 million relating to underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.

 

Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma Ltd. License Agreement

 

On May 17, 2018, we entered into a license agreement, or the VFMCRP Agreement, with VFMCRP, a joint venture between Vifor Pharma Group and Fresenius Medical Care, under which we granted VFMCRP a license to seek regulatory approval to commercialize, import, export, use, distribute, offer for sale, promote, sell and otherwise commercialize KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection for all therapeutic uses to prevent, inhibit or treat itch associated with pruritus in hemodialysis and peritoneal-dialysis patients worldwide (excluding the United States, Japan and South Korea). We retain full development and commercialization rights for KORSUVA injection for the treatment of CKD-aP in the U.S. except in the dialysis clinics of Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), where we and VFMCRP will promote KORSUVA injection under a profit-sharing arrangement.

Upon entry into the VFMCRP Agreement, VFMCRP made a non-refundable, non-creditable $50 million upfront payment to us and Vifor (International) Ltd., or Vifor, purchased 1,174,827 shares of our common stock for $20 million, at a premium for the price of $17.024 per share. In addition, we are eligible to receive from VFMCRP regulatory and commercial milestone payments in the aggregate of up to $470 million, consisting of up to $30 million in regulatory milestones and up to $440 million in tiered commercial milestones, all of which are sales-related. We are also eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalty payments based on annual net sales, as defined, of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in the licensed territories. In the United States, we and VFMCRP will promote KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in the dialysis clinics of FMCNA under a profit-sharing arrangement (subject to the terms and conditions of the VFMCRP Agreement) based on net FMCNA clinic sales recorded by us.

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Our Product Candidates

 

Our product candidate, CR845/difelikefalin, is a new chemical entity, which is designed to selectively stimulate kappa, rather than mu, and delta opioid receptors outside of the central nervous system, or CNS. CR845/difelikefalin has been designed with specific chemical characteristics to restrict its entry into the CNS and further limit its mechanism of action to kappa opioid receptors in the peripheral nervous system, or nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord and certain immune cells. In addition to the side effects associated with activation of mu opioid receptors in the CNS, activation of kappa receptors in the CNS is also known to result in some undesirable effects, including dysphoria. CR845/difelikefalin is designed to specifically target kappa receptors located on peripheral nervous system and certain immune cells that results in modulation of pain signals as well as relief from pruritus or itch associated with certain chronic diseases. Since CR845/difelikefalin is designed to modulate signals peripherally without any significant activation of opioid receptors in the CNS, it is generally not expected to produce the CNS-related side effects of mu opioid agonists (such as addiction and respiratory depression) or centrally-active kappa opioid agonists (i.e. dysphoria and hallucinations). CR845/difelikefalin has been administered to more than 2,000 human subjects in Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 2/3 and Phase 3 clinical trials as an I.V. infusion, rapid intravenous injection or oral capsule or tablet, and thus far has been observed to be generally well tolerated in these clinical trials.    

Based on the non-clinical and clinical studies we have completed to date, we believe that CR845/difelikefalin, if approved, would be attractive to both patients and physicians as a treatment for moderate-to-severe pain or pruritus associated with certain diseases such as CKD, CLD and others due to the following attributes:  

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Our current product candidate pipeline is summarized in the table below:

 

 

KORSUVA (CR845/Difelikefalin) Injection for Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP)

 

Pruritus, or itch, is associated with certain chronic conditions such as kidney disease, atopic dermatitis, eczema, liver disease and psoriasis. Based on KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin)’s effect on the peripheral nervous system and immune cells which result into anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory effects in non-clinical models, we believe KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) has the potential to treat pruritus associated with multiple medical conditions.  

 

CKD-associated pruritus, or CKD-aP, also known as uremic pruritus, is an intractable systemic itch condition with high prevalence in patients with CKD for which there are no approved therapeutics in the United States.

 

In the first quarter of 2018, we initiated the first pivotal Phase 3 efficacy trial of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in the United States for the treatment of CKD-aP in patients undergoing hemodialysis. In August 2018, we initiated a Global Phase 3 efficacy trial of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection that is expected to enroll patients in the United States and multiple countries outside the United States. In addition to the efficacy trials, we are also conducting a 52-week Phase 3 safety study of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP.

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In June 2017, the FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation for KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection for the treatment of moderate-to-severe uremic pruritus in patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis. This regulatory decision was supported by positive results from Phase 2 clinical trials of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP. Breakthrough therapy designation is granted to expedite the development and review process for new therapies addressing serious or life-threatening conditions, where preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug candidate may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints.

KALM^TM-1 and KALM-2 Phase 3 Efficacy Trials of KORSUVA (CR845/Difelikefalin) Injection

In January 2018, we initiated the first Phase 3 efficacy trial (KALM-1) to support regulatory filings for the approval of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection. This U.S study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week treatment trial (with a 52-week open label extension phase) that is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 0.5 mcg/kg of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection to be administered three times per week after dialysis in 350 hemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe pruritus, with a pre-specified interim assessment that allows for expansion of the study to up to 500 patients, if needed. The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving at least a 3‑point improvement from baseline with respect to the weekly mean of the daily 24‑hour worst itching intensity numeric rating scale, or NRS, score at week 12. Secondary endpoints of the Phase 3 trial include assessment of itch-related quality of life changes measured using self-assessment 5-D Itch and Skindex-10 scales, as well as the proportion of patients achieving at least 4-point improvement from baseline in weekly mean of the daily 24-hour worst itching NRS score at week 12 and patient global impression of change. Based on the current status of the KALM-1 trial, we anticipate the completion of the interim assessment by year-end 2018 or early 2019, and expect completion of the 12-week treatment period for the full trial within the first half of 2019.

In August 2018, we announced the dosing of first patient in the second Phase 3 efficacy trial (KALM-2) to support regulatory filings worldwide that is matching in design and size to the KALM-1 trial. This second Phase 3 trial is designed to enroll hemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe pruritus in the United States as well as in multiple countries in Europe and Asia Pacific. We expect to report data from both KALM-1 and KALM-2 trials in 2019.

Phase 3 Safety Trial of KORSUVA (CR845/Difelikefalin) Injection

In the second quarter of 2017, we initiated a 52-week Phase 3 safety trial that is expected to enroll up to 240 hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP, including those who have completed prior Phase 2 trials of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection as well as patients who have not been previously exposed to CR845/difelikefalin. This open-label trial is evaluating the long-term safety of KORSUVA (CR845/ difelikefalin) injection at the dose of 0.5mcg/kg and has currently enrolled over 175 patients with CKD-aP, with a number of patients who have completed one year of treatment.

The design and dose selection for our Phase 3 trials are based on results of the previously completed Phase 2 trials of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP in consultation with the FDA as part of our End of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA that was held in September 2017.

Phase 2/3 Adaptive Design Trial of KORSUVA (CR845/Difelikefalin) Injection in Dialysis Patients

In June 2016, we initiated a two-part Phase 2/3 adaptive design trial of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in dialysis patients suffering from moderate-to-severe uremic pruritus. In March 2017, we announced top-line data from the Phase 2 trial, which was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of three doses of intravenous KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection (0.5 mcg/kg, 1.0 mcg/kg and 1.5 mcg/kg) administered three times per week after dialysis over an eight-week treatment period in 174 patients with moderate-to-severe uremic pruritus.      

The primary endpoint of this trial was the change from baseline of the mean worst itching score for week eight measured on a patient reported 24-hour worst itching intensity 11-point NRS scale. Patients receiving KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection experienced a 68% greater reduction from baseline in worst itch scores than those receiving placebo (p<0.0019). The secondary endpoints of this trial focused on itch-related quality of life measures assessed using the Skindex-10 scale, 5-D itch scale, sleep disturbance subscale and others. In addition to reduction of pruritus, patients experienced substantial improvement in multiple itch-related quality of life (Skindex-10, 5-D Itch scale) measures and sleep over two months of treatment. Additionally, in a post-hoc analysis, (1) 64% of the patients treated at the 0.5 mcg/kg dose experienced at least a 3‑point improvement from baseline with respect to the weekly mean NRS score versus 29% of patients on placebo (p<0.01), and (2) 51% of the patients treated at the 0.5 mcg/kg dose experienced at least a 4‑point improvement from baseline with respect to the weekly mean NRS score versus 24% of patients on placebo (p<0.05).

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Overall, KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) was observed to be generally well tolerated over the eight-week treatment period and the unblinded Drug Safety Monitoring Board did not raise any safety concerns during the course of the trial. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were somnolence, headache, dizziness, mental status changes, nausea and diarrhea, generally in line with what has been observed in previous clinical studies of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin). The Phase 3 part of this study has been replaced by KALM-1.

Phase 2 Efficacy Trial in Dialysis Patients (Part B)

In 2014, we conducted a Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept trial (Part B), which measured the efficacy of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection at the dose of 1.0 mcg/kg compared to placebo in reducing the intensity of itch in 65 dialysis patients with uremic pruritus over a two-week dosing period, who had baseline "worst itching" scores of greater than 40 mm on a visual analog scale, or VAS ranging from 0 to 100 mm. In July 2015, we reported positive top-line efficacy results from this trial, in which we observed that KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection demonstrated statistically significant reduction in worst itch intensity as measured by VAS, the primary endpoint of the trial, as well as statistically significant improvement in quality of life measures such as Skindex-10, the trial’s secondary endpoint. The overall safety and tolerability profile was favorable. The dose of the Phase 2 study was informed by Phase 1 safety and pharmacokinetic, or PK, trial (Part A) that was conducted in subjects undergoing hemodialysis at doses ranging from 0.5 mcg/kg to 2.5 mcg/kg after each dialysis session up to three times per week.

Oral KORSUVA (CR845/Difelikefalin) for Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus

In July 2018, we announced the dosing of first patients in a Phase 2 trial of Oral KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) for the treatment of pruritus in stage III-V (moderate-to-severe) CKD patients. The Phase 2, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 12-week trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of three dose levels (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg, once daily) of Oral KORSUVA versus placebo in approximately 240 stage III-V CKD patients with moderate-to-severe pruritus, with a pre-specified interim analysis that allows for expansion of the study to up to 480 patients, if needed. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change from baseline in the weekly mean of the daily 24-hour Worst Itch Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score at Week 12 of the treatment period. Secondary endpoints include change from baseline in itch-related quality of life scores at the end of Week 12, as assessed by the total Skindex-10 and 5-D itch scores, as well as the proportion of patients achieving an improvement from baseline ≥3 points with respect to the weekly mean of the daily 24-hour Worst Itch NRS score at week 12.

 

The dosing of the above Phase 2 trial was informed by the results of our Phase 1 trial of Oral KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in patients with Stage III - V CKD. Data from the Phase 1 trial was used to assess the PK and safety of different tablet strengths of Oral KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) (for example, 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg), dosed daily over a one-week treatment period in three groups of patients with moderate renal impairment and three groups of patients with severe renal impairment (six groups total). The exposure levels achieved with Oral KORSUVA tablets were approximately equivalent to the exposure level achieved with 0.5 mcg/kg dose of I.V. KORSUVA that exhibited statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in itch intensity in hemodialysis patients with moderate to severe CKD-aP in a previous Phase 2 trial.

Oral KORSUVA (CR845/Difelikefalin) for Treatment of Chronic Liver Disease-Associated Pruritus

Pruritus is a common and irritating symptom in patients with chronic liver disease, or CLD, especially those with chronic cholestatic disease. Severe pruritus can have debilitating effects and can lead to a significant reduction in a patient’s quality of life. Although the pathogenesis of CLD-aP remains poorly understood, it is likely multifactorial including evidence for an imbalance in the endogenous opioid system driven by higher mu receptor activation (pruritic) versus kappa receptor activation (antipruritic). Consequently, the use of selective kappa-opioid receptor agonists has been suggested for the treatment of pruritus in patients with chronic liver disease, or CLD.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, we submitted an investigational new drug application, or IND, to the FDA for Oral KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) for symptomatic relief of CLD-aP and initiated a Phase 1 safety and PK clinical trial of Oral KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in patients with CLD in the first quarter of 2018. The open-label study is designed to evaluate the safety and PK profile of repeated doses of Oral KORSUVA (twice daily) in up to 60 patients with CLD and up to 12 matched healthy control subjects. Oral KORSUVA will be evaluated over an eight-day treatment period in patients with mild, moderate or severe CLD based on their Child-Pugh classification (i.e, Class A, B and C). The study is fully enrolled and we expect to announce top-line assessment within the fourth quarter of 2018. We aim to initiate a Phase 2 trial of Oral KORSUVA for the treatment of CLD-aP later this year/early next year.

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Intravenous CR845/Difelikefalin for Treatment of Acute Postoperative Pain  

We have also investigated CR845/difelikefalin for the treatment of pain in an acute care setting. CR845/difelikefalin is designed to provide pain relief without stimulating mu opioid receptors and therefore potentially without mu opioid-related side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression and euphoria.

Phase 2/3 Efficacy and Safety Trial of CR845/Difelikefalin Injection in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

In June 2018, we reported positive top-line date from the adaptive Phase 2/3 study of CR845/difelikefalin in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. This trial was initiated in September 2015 and was designed as a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group adaptive design trial with repeated doses of CR845/difelikefalin injection or placebo administered both prior to and following abdominal surgery. The trial protocol initially included three dose levels of CR845/difelikefalin injection (1.0 mcg/kg, 2.0 mcg/kg and 5.0 mcg/kg versus placebo) that was subsequently modified in June 2016 to test two doses of I.V. CR845/difelikefalin (1.0 mcg/kg and 0.5 mcg/kg) versus placebo, based on a safety review by us, the trial’s Independent Data Monitoring Committee, or IDMC, and the FDA, of unblinded safety data from the first 90 patients dosed. The safety review was conducted in response to a clinical hold that the FDA placed on the trial in February 2016 and removed in April 2016 following the safety review. The clinical hold was based on a pre-specified stopping rule related to elevated serum sodium levels of greater than 150 mmol/L that was included in the clinical trial protocol. The trial enrolled 444 patients undergoing abdominal surgery, composed of 228 patients who underwent ventral hernia surgery and 216 patients who completed a hysterectomy procedure. The primary endpoint was pain relief as measured by Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the NRS pain intensity scores collected over the first 24-hour period after the baseline dose (0 hour) post-surgery for all combined surgeries. The secondary endpoints included incidence of vomiting, improvement in impact scores of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), reduction in use of rescue analgesic medication, as well as patient global assessment at 24 hours post baseline dose after surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common adverse effects reported in the placebo and both CR845 groups were generally low and similar in incidence, and included nausea, constipation, vomiting, flatulence, headache and dyspepsia.

 

The next steps for the acute post-operative pain program will be determined after we have completed detailed analysis of the data and consulted with the FDA.

 

 

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Phase 1 Safety and PK and Phase 2 Acute Pain Clinical Trials (Post-Surgery) of CR845/Difelikefalin Injection

Previously, in three different randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trials, CR845/difelikefalin injection has been shown to be well tolerated and demonstrated efficacy of pain relief. Two of these trials were conducted in patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy, a soft tissue surgical procedure, and a third trial was in patients undergoing bunionectomy, a hard tissue surgical procedure. Intravenous administration of CR845/difelikefalin resulted in statistically significant reductions in pain intensity, as measured by the sum of pain intensity difference. In addition, in both surgical models, CR845/difelikefalin injection exhibited an ability to decrease the opioid-related adverse events, or AEs, of nausea and vomiting associated with current therapies, along with no evidence of drug-related respiratory depression.

The safety profile of CR845/difelikefalin injection has been demonstrated in multiple studies. CR845/difelikefalin injection was considered to be generally safe and well tolerated in all of these clinical trials. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events, or TEAEs, across evaluated populations in acute pain trials were transient facial tingling or numbness, dizziness and fatigue. In addition, a transient increase in urine output in the absence of electrolyte loss, otherwise known as aquaresis, was also observed, which in some subjects in acute pain trials was accompanied by asymptomatic elevations in plasma sodium that were generally considered to be clinically unimportant. No clinically significant changes in electrocardiogram characteristics have been observed in any of these studies. Importantly, there appeared to be no cases of dysphoria/hallucinations typically observed with prior-generation CNS-active kappa agonists.

Human Abuse Liability Trial of CR845/Difelikefalin Injection

In the fourth quarter of 2014, we successfully completed a Human Abuse Liability, or HAL, trial of CR845/difelikefalin injection. The results from this HAL trial indicate that I.V. CR845/difelikefalin (0.005 mg/kg or 0.015 mg/kg) demonstrates statistically significant lower “drug liking” scores as measured by VAS Emax (p <0.0001) when compared to I.V. pentazocine (0.5 mg/kg), an approved Schedule IV opioid receptor agonist. I.V. CR845 also demonstrated highly statistically significant lower “feeling high,” “overall liking,” and “take drug again” scores (p <0.0001) as compared to pentazocine.  Additionally, CR845/difelikefalin injection showed no “drug liking” dose response as both doses of CR845/difelikefalin injection were the same.  Those scores represent standard subjective measures recommended by the FDA to assess a drug’s abuse liability. We believe that the totality of the results from the HAL trial are supportive of the potential for CR845/difelikefalin to be the first non-scheduled or low (Schedule V) scheduled peripheral kappa opioid for acute pain or pruritus.

Respiratory Safety Phase 1 Trial of CR845/Difelikefalin Injection

In April 2017, we announced summary results from our quantitative Phase 1 trial evaluating respiratory safety of CR845/difelikefalin injection. Respiratory depression remains the most life-threatening side effect of traditional, centrally acting, opioid analgesics, the most commonly used drug class for current treatment of postoperative pain in the United States. The Phase 1 trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover trial of two doses of CR845/difelikefalin injection versus placebo on three measures of respiratory drive in 15 healthy volunteers. Each subject was randomized to one of three treatment sequences and was administered I.V. bolus placebo, I.V. CR845/difelikefalin (1.0 mcg/kg) and I.V. CR845/difelikefalin (5.0 mcg/kg) on sequential 24-hour periods, with I.V. CR845/difelikefalin (5.0 mcg/kg) representing a projected five-fold supra-therapeutic dose. After each administration, and continuing through four hours post-dosing, end-tidal CO₂, or ETCO₂, oxygen saturation, or SpO₂, and respiratory rate were continuously monitored. The primary safety endpoints were: a >10 mmHg sustained (>30 seconds duration) increase in ETCO₂ above baseline or to >50 mmHg, and a sustained reduction in SpO₂ to <92 percent.

There were no statistically significant differences in any respiratory measures observed between groups throughout the four-hour observation period post-dosing and no individual subject met the threshold for a respiratory safety event. Additionally, all treatment-emergent adverse events were previously reported with CR845/difelikefalin administration and were mild, resolving without intervention.

Oral CR845/Difelikefalin for Treatment of Osteoarthritis

We also investigated an oral version of CR845/difelikefalin, or Oral CR845/difelikefalin for pain relief, which we believe could be used to provide pain relief to patients with acute or chronic pain in an outpatient setting and also as an I.V.-to-oral transition, or step-down, therapy for hospital patients being prepared for discharge.

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Phase 2b Trial of Oral CR845/Difelikefalin

In the third quarter of 2016 we initiated a Phase 2b trial with Oral CR845/difelikefalin, which was designed to evaluate three tablet strengths (1.0 mg, 2.5 mg and 5.0 mg), dosed twice-daily over an eight-week treatment period in 476 patients with osteoarthritis, or OA, of the knee or hip experiencing moderate-to-severe pain across the United States.  The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline at week eight, with respect to the weekly mean of the daily pain intensity score using an NRS score. Secondary endpoints included overall Patient Global Assessment, or PGA, score, and overall improvement in Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index, or WOMAC, scores, two commonly used patient-reported outcome measures, as well as mean reduction in rescue medication.  

In June 2017, we announced top-line results from the Phase 2b trial. The results of the primary efficacy analysis of change from baseline in pain intensity NRS score comparing Oral CR845/difelikefalin (all doses) vs. placebo were not statistically significant across all patients (OA of the knee or hip). However, patients with OA of the hip maintained on the 5.0 mg dose to the end of the eight-week treatment period exhibited a statistically significant 39% reduction in mean joint pain score versus placebo (p=0.043); although this effect did not reach statistical significance in a combined analysis of all patients with OA of the knee or hip maintained on the 5.0 mg dose (p=0.111). For patients maintained on the 5.0 mg dose, there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of patients whose OA pain was “very much improved” or “much improved” as indicated by PGA score in both the total patient group (p <0.005 vs. placebo) and in patients with primary OA of the hip (p<0.006 vs. placebo). The reduction in pain score in the 5.0 mg dose group in hip patients was accompanied by a reduction in mean rescue medication of 41% at week eight versus placebo. Patients maintained on the 1.0 mg and 2.5 mg tablet strengths did not exhibit significant reductions in mean joint pain scores compared to placebo. All tablet strengths were generally well tolerated with no drug-related serious adverse events. For the 5.0 mg dose, the most common adverse events reported at the >5 percent incidence level were dry mouth (6%) and constipation (12%). There were no clinically significant changes in serum sodium levels observed during the eight-week treatment period for any dose group.

In 2015, we completed a Phase 2a trial of Oral CR845/difelikefalin in 80 patients with OA of the knee or hip with moderate-to-severe pain evaluating four tablet strengths (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg and 5.0 mg) administered twice a day over a two-week treatment period. We reported data that showed dose related reduction in mean joint pain score and that all four tablet strengths were safe and well tolerated.

We do not intend to develop Oral CR845/difelikefalin in pain associated with OA on our own and will likely seek one or more potential partner(s) for further development of Oral CR845/difelikefalin in this indication.

CR701    

In addition to our CR845/difelikefalin family of peripheral kappa agonists, we have discovered lead molecules that selectively modulate peripheral cannabinoid receptors. Studies on the effects of cannabis have led to the discovery of an endogenous system of ligands in humans involved in a number of physiological processes, including pain and inflammation. The main naturally occurring ligands for this system, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), activate a number of cannabinoid receptors, including CB1 and CB2 receptors. Like opioid receptors, CB1 and CB2 receptors are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. CB1 receptors and associated ligands are mainly localized in the brain, whereas CB2 receptors are found mainly in peripheral tissues, particularly immune cells such as leukocytes and mast cells, which have been shown to be involved in pain and inflammatory responses.

Our most advanced CB compound, CR701, is a peripherally-restricted, mixed-CB1/CB2 receptor agonist that selectively interacts with these cannabinoid receptor subtypes, with no off-target activities. The compound is orally bioavailable, active in preclinical models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain, and does not produce the side effects characteristic of centrally-active cannabinoids, such as sedation and hypothermia.  Accordingly, CR701 would be expected to have substantially less abuse potential than centrally-active cannabinoids, but retain activity against therapeutically valuable peripheral targets, similar in principle to CR845/difelikefalin.

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Components of Operating Results

Revenue

 

To date, we have not generated any revenue from product sales and do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the foreseeable future. Substantially all of our revenue recognized to date has consisted of upfront payments under license agreements with VFMCRP, Maruishi and CKDP, and milestone and sub-license payments under license agreements with CKDP and Maruishi for CR845/difelikefalin, some or all of which was deferred upon receipt, as well as license agreements for CR665, our first-generation drug program for which development efforts have ceased. To date, excluding the upfront payments received under our three license agreements, we have earned a total of $5.2 million in clinical development or regulatory milestone payments and sub-license fees under our Maruishi and CKDP collaborations, net of contractual foreign currency adjustments and South Korean withholding taxes, but have not yet received any milestone payments under the VFMCRP Agreement. We have not received any royalties, under any of our collaborations.

Research and Development (R&D)

Our R&D expenses relate primarily to the development of CR845/difelikefalin. R&D expenses consist of expenses incurred in performing R&D activities, including compensation and benefits for full-time R&D employees, clinical trial and related clinical manufacturing expenses, third-party formulation expenses, fees paid to contract research organizations, or CROs, and other consultants, stock-based compensation for R&D employees and consultants and other outside expenses. Our R&D expenses also included expenses related to preclinical activities for our earlier stage programs in prior periods and may include such expenses in the future.

R&D costs are expensed as incurred. Non-refundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in R&D activities are deferred and capitalized. The capitalized amounts are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed. Most of our R&D costs have been external costs, which we track on a program-by program basis. Our internal R&D costs are primarily compensation expenses for our full-time R&D employees. We do not track internal R&D costs on a program-by-program basis.    

R&D activities are central to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. Based on our current development plans, we presently expect that our R&D expenses for 2018 will increase over those for 2017. However, it is difficult to determine with certainty the duration and completion costs of our current or future nonclinical programs and clinical trials of our product candidates, or if, when or to what extent we will generate revenues from the commercialization and sale of any of our product candidates that obtain regulatory approval. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for any of our product candidates.

The duration, costs and timing of clinical trials and development of our product candidates will depend on a variety of factors including:

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In addition, the probability of success for each product candidate will depend on numerous factors, including competition, manufacturing capability and commercial viability. We will determine which programs to pursue and how much to fund each program in response to the scientific and clinical success of each product candidate, as well as an assessment of each product candidate’s commercial potential.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and other related costs, including stock-based compensation, for personnel in executive, finance, accounting, legal, business development and human resources functions. Other costs include facility costs not otherwise included in R&D expenses, legal fees, insurance costs, investor relations costs, patent costs and fees for accounting and consulting services.

We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses for 2018 will approximate those for 2017 to support our continued R&D activities and potential commercialization of our product candidates. These expenses will likely include costs related to the hiring of additional personnel, fees to outside consultants, lawyers, accountants, and investor relations costs. In addition, if I.V. CR845/difelikefalin, Oral CR845/difelikefalin or any future product candidate obtains regulatory approval for marketing, we expect to incur expenses associated with building a sales and marketing team.  

Other Income

Other income consists of interest and dividend income earned on our cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash and realized gains and losses on the sale of marketable securities and property and equipment.

Benefit from Income Taxes

The benefit from income taxes relates to state R&D tax credits exchanged for cash pursuant to the Connecticut R&D Tax Credit Exchange Program, which permits qualified small businesses engaged in R&D activities within Connecticut to exchange their unused R&D tax credits for a cash amount equal to 65% of the value of the exchanged credits.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017

Revenue

 

 

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License and milestone fees revenue

License and milestone fees revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $5.0 million and $7.9 million, respectively. License and milestone fees revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $530 thousand. There was no license and milestone fees revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017. License and milestone fees revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was related to license fees earned by us during the period in connection with the VFMCRP Agreement. License and milestone fees revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 included $530 thousand of the $843 thousand sub-license fee earned by us in connection with Maruishi’s sub-license agreement with Kissei Pharmaceuticals, Co. Ltd. that was allocated to the license fee performance obligation under the Maruishi Agreement (see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements, Collaborations and Licensing Agreements, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).

Collaborative revenue

There was no collaborative revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 or the three months ended September 30, 2017. Collaborative revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 included $313 thousand of the $843 thousand sub-license fee earned by us in connection with Maruishi’s sub-license agreement with Kissei Pharmaceuticals, Co. Ltd. that was allocated to the R&D services performance obligation under the Maruishi Agreement (see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements, Collaborations and Licensing Agreements, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).

Clinical compound revenue

Clinical compound revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 included $33 thousand from the sale of clinical compound to Maruishi. Clinical compound revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 included $68 thousand from the sale of clinical compound to Maruishi. There was no clinical compound revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Research and Development Expense  

 

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017, the net increase in direct clinical trial costs and related consultant costs primarily resulted from increases totaling $12.0 million, mainly from activities related to the two Phase 3 studies of I.V. KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis, the Phase 3 long-term safety study of I.V. KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP, and the Phase 2 trial of Oral CR845 in CKD-aP patients. There was also an increase of $2.5 million in drug manufacturing costs. Those costs were partially offset by a decrease of $1.9 million, mainly from the Phase 2/3 I.V. CR845/difelikefalin adaptive clinical trial in postoperative pain, the Phase 2b clinical trial of Oral CR845/difelikefalin in patients with osteoarthritis, and the Phase 2 clinical trial of I.V. KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in hemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe uremic pruritus, all of which are complete and no longer ongoing. The increase in stock-based compensation expense relates primarily to an increase in the number of options outstanding and stock option awards granted to non-employee consultants, which are marked to market each quarter, and resulted from an increase in the market price of our common stock. The increase in other R&D operating expenses was primarily the result of an increase in payroll and related costs associated with R&D personnel, partially offset by lower costs associated with conferences.

  

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For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the net increase in direct clinical trial costs and related consultant costs primarily resulted from increases totaling $26.1 million, mainly from activities related to the two Phase 3 studies of I.V. KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis, the Phase 3 long-term safety study of I.V. KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP, the Phase 2 trial of Oral CR845 in CKD-aP patients, the Phase 1 safety and PK trial of multiple doses of Oral CR845/difelikefalin in moderate-to-severe CKD patients and the Phase 1 safety and PK trial of Oral CR845/difelikefalin in patients with liver disease. There was also an increase of $3.9 million in drug manufacturing costs. Those costs were partially offset by a decrease of $15.3 million, mainly from the Phase 2b clinical trial of Oral CR845/difelikefalin in patients with osteoarthritis, the Phase 2/3 I.V. CR845/difelikefalin adaptive clinical trial in postoperative pain, the Phase 2 clinical trial of I.V. KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in hemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe uremic pruritus, and the Phase 1 safety and PK trial of multiple doses of Oral CR845/difelikefalin in hemodialysis patients, all of which are complete and no longer ongoing. The increase in stock-based compensation expense relates primarily to an increase in the number of options outstanding. The increase in other R&D operating expenses was primarily the result of an increase in payroll and related costs associated with R&D personnel, partially offset by lower costs associated with conferences.  

The following table summarizes our R&D expenses by programs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017: 

 

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017, the increase in professional fees and public/investor relations expenses was primarily the result of increased consultants’ costs and legal fees. The decrease in stock-based compensation expense resulted from the acceleration of vesting of outstanding stock option awards upon the retirement of our former Chief Financial Officer during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and an increase in forfeitures of stock option awards. The decrease in other G&A operating expenses was primarily the result of a decrease in rent, utilities and related costs.

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For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the increase in professional fees and public/investor relations expenses was primarily the result of increased consultants’ costs and legal fees. The increase in stock-based compensation expense resulted from additional stock option grants to employees. The increase in other G&A operating expenses was primarily the result of an increase in payroll and related costs associated with G&A personnel, partially offset by a decrease in rent, utilities and related costs.  

Other Income

 

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017, the increase in other income was primarily due to an increase in dividend and interest income resulting from a higher average balance of our portfolio of investments in the 2018 period.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the increase in other income was primarily due to an increase in dividend and interest income resulting from a higher average balance of our portfolio of investments in the 2018 period.

Benefit from Income Taxes

For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, pre-tax losses were $19.5 million and $12.6 million, respectively, and we recognized a benefit from income taxes of $66 thousand and $145 thousand, respectively.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, pre-tax losses were $53.6 million and $44.1 million, respectively, and we recognized a benefit from income taxes of $264 thousand and $178 thousand, respectively.  

The benefit from income taxes relates to state R&D tax credits exchanged for cash pursuant to the Connecticut R&D Tax Credit Exchange Program, as discussed above. We recognized a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

Since our inception and through September 30, 2018, we have raised an aggregate of approximately $486.6 million to fund our operations, including (1) net proceeds of $309.8 million from the sale of shares of our common stock in four public offerings, including our initial public offering; (2) proceeds of  $73.3 million from the sale of shares of our convertible preferred stock and from debt financings prior to our initial public offering; (3) payments of $88.9 million under our license agreements, primarily with VFMCRP, Maruishi and CKDP, and an earlier product candidate for which development efforts ceased in 2007; and (4) net proceeds of $14.6 million from the purchase of our common stock in relation to the license agreement with VFMCRP (see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements, Collaborations and Licensing Agreements, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).  

In order to fund future operations, including our planned clinical trials, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-216657), which the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, declared effective on March 24, 2017. The shelf registration statement provides for aggregate offerings of up to $250 million of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or any combination thereof. The securities registered under this shelf registration statement include unsold securities that had been registered under our previous shelf registration statement (File No. 333-203072) that was declared effective on May 13, 2015.

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On April 5, 2017, we completed a public offering of 5,117,500 shares of our common stock, including 667,500 shares sold upon the full exercise by the underwriters of their option to buy additional shares pursuant to our shelf registration statement. We received net proceeds of $86.2 million after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses paid by us. The proceeds of the offering are/were being used to fund our clinical and research development activities, including the ongoing Phase 3 program for I.V. KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) in CKD-aP or uremic pruritus, additional trials of Oral CR845/difelikefalin in other diseases associated with pruritus, the recently completed Phase 2/3 I.V. CR845/difelikefalin adaptive clinical trial in postoperative pain, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

On July 18, 2018, we entered into an underwriting agreement with Jefferies LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, relating to the issuance and sale by us of up to 5,175,000 shares of our common stock, including 675,000 shares of common stock the underwriters had the option to purchase, at a public offering price of $19.00 per share.  This offering was made by pursuant to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-216657), filed with the SEC on March 13, 2017 and declared effective on March 24, 2017, and a related prospectus dated March 24, 2017 and a prospectus supplement dated July 18, 2018, which was filed with the SEC on July 20, 2018.  

On July 23, 2018, we closed the offering, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase 675,000 additional shares of common stock. We received net proceeds of approximately $92.1 million, after deducting $6.2 million relating to underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses.  

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from this most recent underwritten offering to fund our clinical and research development activities, including the completion of our Phase 3 programs and submission of a new drug application to the FDA for KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection for the treatment of CKD-aP in hemodialysis patients, the advancement of Oral KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) into Phase 2 trials for the treatment of CKD-aP in Stage III-V patients and CLD patients, the expansion of our Oral KORSUVA program into certain dermatologic conditions and the exploration of further development of CR845/difelikefalin injection in the post-operative setting after consultation with the FDA, as well as for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

We may offer additional securities under our shelf registration statement from time to time in response to market conditions or other circumstances if we believe such a plan of financing is in the best interests of our stockholders. We believe that the use of a shelf registration statement provides us with the flexibility to raise additional capital to finance our operations as needed.    

As of September 30, 2018, we had $206.1 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale marketable securities. We believe our current unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our currently anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditures into 2021, without giving effect to any potential milestone payments we may receive under our licensing and collaboration agreements with VFMCRP, Maruishi and CKDP. Our anticipated operating expenses include contractually committed costs as well as non-contractually committed clinical trial costs for trials that may be delayed or not initiated and other non-committed controllable costs.

 

Under the VFMCRP Agreement, we are eligible to receive regulatory and commercial milestone payments in the aggregate of up to $470 million, consisting of up to $30 million in regulatory milestones and up to $440 million in tiered commercial milestones, all of which are sales-related. We are also eligible to receive tiered double-digit royalty payments based on annual net sales, as defined in the VFMCRP Agreement, of CR845/difelikefalin injection in the Licensed Territories.

Under the Maruishi Agreement, we are also potentially eligible to earn up to an aggregate of $6.0 million in clinical development milestones and $4.5 million in regulatory milestones, before any foreign exchange adjustment, as well as tiered royalties, with percentages ranging from the low double digits to the low twenties, based on net sales of products containing CR845/difelikefalin in Japan, if any, and share in any sub-license fees. As of September 30, 2018, we have received milestone payments of $2.5 million before contractual foreign currency exchange adjustments.

During the first quarter of 2017, Maruishi entered into a sub-license agreement with another Japanese pharmaceutical company for the development and sales/marketing of CR845/difelikefalin in patients with uremic pruritus in Japan, as a result of which we received a payment of $843 thousand.

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The next potential milestones that could result in us receiving payments under the Maruishi Agreement will be a clinical development milestone associated with the recently completed first pivotal Phase 3 trial of CR845/difelikefalin in acute pain in the United States and the potential initiation by Maruishi of a Phase 3 clinical trial of CR845/difelikefalin in Japan for uremic pruritus. If achieved, these milestones will result in payments of $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, before contractual foreign currency exchange adjustments, being due to us.  

Under the CKDP Agreement, we are potentially eligible to earn up to an aggregate of $2.25 million in clinical development milestones and $1.5 million in regulatory milestones, before South Korean withholding tax, as well as tiered royalties with percentages ranging from the high single digits to the high teens, based on net sales of products containing CR845/difelikefalin in South Korea, if any, and share in any sub-license fees. As of September 30, 2018, we have received milestone payments of $1.5 million before South Korean withholding tax.

The next potential milestone that could result in us receiving payment under the CKDP Agreement will be for a clinical development milestone for the completion by us in the United States of a Phase 3 trial of CR845/difelikefalin in uremic pruritus. If achieved, this milestone will result in a payment of $750 thousand, before South Korean withholding tax, being due to us.    

Our ability to earn these payments and their timing is dependent upon the outcome of I.V. and Oral CR845/difelikefalin development activities and, potentially, commercialization. However, our receipt of any further such amounts is uncertain at this time and we may never receive any more of these amounts.  

Funding Requirements

Our primary uses of capital have been, and we expect will continue to be, compensation and related expenses, third-party clinical R&D services and clinical costs. In the past, we have also previously used capital for laboratory and related supplies.

 

Since inception, we have incurred significant operating and net losses. Our net losses were $19.4 million and $12.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $53.4 million and $43.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of September 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $273.7 million. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating and net losses in the foreseeable future. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year, depending on the timing of our clinical trials, the receipt of additional milestone payments, if any, under our licensing and collaborations with VFMCRP, Maruishi and CKDP, the receipt of payments under any future collaborations and/or licensing agreements we may enter into, and our expenditures on other R&D activities.  

We anticipate that our expenses will increase as we:

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The successful development of any of our product candidates is highly uncertain. As such, at this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of I.V. CR845/difelikefalin, Oral CR845/difelikefalin or our other current and future programs. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, we will generate any further material net cash inflows from CR845/difelikefalin. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing medicines, including the uncertainty of:

A change in the outcome of any of these variables with respect to the development of I.V. CR845/difelikefalin, Oral CR845/difelikefalin or any of our future product candidates would significantly change the costs and timing associated with the development of that product candidate.

Because our product candidates are still in clinical development and the outcome of these efforts is uncertain, we cannot estimate the total amounts necessary to successfully complete the development and commercialization of all our product candidates or whether, or when, we may achieve profitability. Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenues, we expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity or debt financings and collaboration arrangements, including our existing licensing and collaboration agreements with VFMCRP, Maruishi and CKDP.  

We will require additional capital beyond our current balances of cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale marketable securities and anticipated amounts as described above, and this additional capital may not be available when needed, on reasonable terms, or at all. In particular, because we do not have sufficient financial resources to meet all of our development objectives, especially the completion of our planned development of I.V. and Oral CR845/difelikefalin for the treatment of pruritus, we will need to raise additional capital. If we are not able to do so, we could be required to postpone, scale back or eliminate some, or all, of these objectives. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the future sale of equity or convertible debt, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our existing common stockholders. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of debt securities, these securities could contain covenants that would restrict our operations. If we raise additional funds through collaboration arrangements in the future, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our drug development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.  

Outlook  

 

Based on timing expectations and projected costs for our current clinical development plans, which include completing our Phase 3 trials of KORSUVA (CR845/difelikefalin) injection in hemodialysis patients suffering from moderate-to-severe CKD-aP to enable an NDA submission, and conducting Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials of Oral (CR845/difelikefalin) in patients with CKD-aP and CLD-aP, we expect that our existing cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale marketable securities as of September 30, 2018 will be sufficient for us to fund our currently anticipated operating expenses and capital expenditures into 2021, without giving effect to any potential milestone payments we may receive under our collaboration agreements with VFMCRP, Maruishi and CKDP.  Our anticipated operating expenses include contractually committed costs as well as non-contractually committed clinical trial costs for trials that may be delayed or not initiated and other non-committed controllable costs. Because the process of testing product candidates in clinical trials is costly and the timing of progress in these trials is uncertain, it is possible that the assumptions upon which we have based this estimate may prove to be wrong, and we could use our capital resources sooner than we presently expect.    

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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or the Act. The Act, which is also commonly referred to as “U.S. tax reform”, significantly changed U.S. corporate income tax laws by, among other provisions, reducing the maximum U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% starting in 2018. In accordance with the reduction in U.S. corporate income tax rate during the period of enactment, we reduced our deferred tax assets, which were offset by a corresponding reduction to our valuation allowance. On September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we did not have any foreign subsidiaries and the international aspects of the Act are not applicable for the respective periods.

On December 22, 2017, Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, or SAB 118, was issued by the SEC due to the complexities involved in accounting for the Act. SAB 118 requires us to include in our financial statements a reasonable estimate of the impact of the Act on earnings to the extent such estimate has been determined. Accordingly, our annual estimated effective tax rate for the year ending December 31, 2018 is based on the reasonable estimate guidance provided by SAB 118. We are continuing to assess the impact from the Act and will record adjustments in 2018, if necessary.

Cash Flows

The following is a summary of the net cash flows provided by (used in) our operating, investing and financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 consisted primarily of a $52.4 million cash inflow from net non-cash charges and a $3.0 million inflow from net changes in operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by a net loss of $53.4 million. Net non-cash charges primarily consisted of an increase in deferred revenue of $47.5 million related to the VFMCRP Agreement and stock-based compensation expense of $5.8 million, partially offset by $1.2 million related to amortization/accretion of available-for-sale securities. The net change in operating assets and liabilities primarily consisted of a cash inflow of $5.5 million from an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, partially offset by a cash outflow of $2.6 million from an increase in prepaid expense, primarily related to an increase in prepaid clinical costs.

Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 consisted primarily of a net loss of $43.9 million, and a $4.1 million outflow from net changes in operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by a $4.6 million cash inflow from net non-cash charges. The net change in operating assets and liabilities primarily consisted of a cash outflow of $4.3 million from a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses. That cash outflow was partially offset by a cash inflow of $0.2 million due to a decrease in income tax receivable from the State of Connecticut under the Connecticut R&D Tax Credit Exchange Program. Net non-cash charges primarily consisted of $4.5 million of stock-based compensation expense and $0.4 million of depreciation and amortization expense, partially offset by $0.3 million of accretion/amortization on available-for-sale securities.  

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $25.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, which primarily included cash outflows of $138.7 million for the purchase of available-for-sale marketable securities, partially offset by cash inflows of $85.5 million from maturities of available-for-sale marketable securities and $28.3 million from the sale of available-for-sale marketable securities.

 

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Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily included cash outflows of $115.7 million for the purchase of available-for-sale marketable securities, partially offset by cash inflows of $65.4 million from maturities of available-for-sale marketable securities and $5.7 million from the sale of available-for-sale marketable securities.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 consisted of $92.1 million of net proceeds from the issuance and sale of our common stock in July 2018, proceeds of $14.6 million from the sale of our common stock relating to the VFMCRP Agreement and $3.6 million received from the exercise of stock options.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 consisted of proceeds, net of issuance costs, of $86.2 million from our public offering of common stock completed in April 2017 and $1.5 million received from the exercise of stock options.  

Significant Contractual Obligations and Commitments

Contractual obligations and commitments as of September 30, 2018 consisted of an operating lease obligation in connection with our operating facility in Stamford, Connecticut. See Note 15 of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements, Commitments and Contingencies, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Please refer to Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements, Basis of Presentation, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have during the periods presented in our condensed financial statements included in this report, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC rules.

Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies  

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to use judgment in making certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses in our condensed financial statements and accompanying notes. Critical accounting policies are those that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require difficult, subjective and complex judgments by management in order to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, there were no significant changes to our critical accounting policies from those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, except as disclosed in Note 2, Basis of Presentation, of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements, included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q regarding revenue recognition.

Interest Rate Risk

As of September 30, 2018, we invested a majority of our cash reserves in a variety of available-for-sale marketable securities, including money market funds and investment-grade debt instruments, principally corporate notes, commercial paper and direct obligations of the U.S. government and U.S. government-sponsored entities, and in cash equivalents. See Note 3 of Notes to Condensed Financial Statements, Available-for-Sale Marketable Securities, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for details about our available-for-sale marketable securities.

As of September 30, 2018, we had invested $109.3 million of our cash reserves in such marketable securities. Those marketable securities include $57.8 million of investment grade debt instruments with a yield of approximately 2.41% and maturities through April 2019 and $51.5 million of money market funds with an average annual return of 1.74%. As of December 31, 2017, we had invested $83.2 million of our cash reserves in such marketable securities. Those marketable securities included $43.2 million of investment grade debt instruments with a yield of approximately 1.70% and maturities through July 2018 and $40.0 million of money market funds with an average annual return of 1.32%.

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We maintain an investment portfolio in accordance with our investment policy, which includes guidelines on acceptable investment securities, minimum credit quality, maturity parameters, and concentration and diversification. The primary objectives of our investment policy are to preserve principal, maintain proper liquidity and meet our operating needs. Our investments are subject to interest rate risk and will decrease in value if market interest rates increase. However, due to the conservative nature of our investments and relatively short duration, interest rate risk is mitigated.

Duration is a sensitivity measure that can be used to approximate the change in the fair value of a security that will result from a change in interest rates. Applying the duration model, a hypothetical 1% increase in interest rates as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, would have resulted in immaterial decreases in the fair values of our portfolio of marketable securities at those dates. We do not currently use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes.    

Credit Quality Risk

Although our investments are subject to credit risk, our investment policy specifies credit quality standards for our investments and limits the amount of credit exposure from any single issue, issuer or type of investment. Nonetheless, deterioration of the credit quality of an investment security subsequent to purchase may subject us to the risk of not being able to recover the full principal value of the security.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2018. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of September 30, 2018, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Beginning January 1, 2018, we implemented ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  Although the new revenue standard had no impact on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows for any historical period presented from our revenue-related contracts, we did implement changes to our processes related to revenue recognition and the control activities within them during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.  These included the development of new policies based on the five-step model provided in the new revenue standard, ongoing contract review requirements, and gathering of information provided for disclosures.

There was no other change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on Controls and Procedures

Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.  Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within Cara Therapeutics, Inc. have been detected.

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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

From time to time, we are subject to litigation and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings and we are not aware of any pending or threatened legal proceedings against us that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.

Please refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2018, for a description of certain significant risks and uncertainties to which our business, operations and financial condition are subject.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we did not identify any additional risk factors or any material changes to the risk factors discussed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

None.

None.

Not applicable.

None.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

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