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Significant accounting policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant accounting policies | Significant accounting policies Principles of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (“VIE”) when the Company possesses both (1) the power to direct the economically significant activities of the entity and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, the entity that could potentially be significant to that entity. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company entered into a participation agreement with a segregated accounts company for purposes of Director and Officer’s insurance. The Company contributed $25.0 million to the segregated account, representing the Company’s maximum loss exposure under the participation agreement, for security for a letter of credit issued to a third-party insurer. While the agreement is cancellable by the Company, the funds cannot be transferred to other parts of the Company, therefore the funds are presented in current assets on the consolidated balance sheets as Restricted Cash. Use of estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Areas of significant estimates include, but are not limited to, revenue recognition including estimated timing of completion of performance obligations and determining whether an option for additional goods or services represents a material right, the impairment assessment of intangible assets and goodwill, and the estimates associated with stock-based compensation awards. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, known trends and other market-specific or other relevant factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates when there are changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could significantly differ from those estimates. Revenue recognition The Company accounts for revenue from contracts with customers, which includes the identification and assessment of the goods and/or services promised within a contract to evaluate which promises are distinct from each other. The terms of our arrangements generally include the payment of one or more of the following: (i) non-refundable, up-front fixed fees, (ii) fixed fees for ‘discovery’ research support, (iii) fixed technology assignment fees, (iv) fixed payments based on the achievement of specified development and/or commercial milestones, (v) royalties on net sales by the customer of licensed drugs, and in some cases, (vi) early termination penalties, and (vii) reimbursements for costs incurred to fulfill the contract with the customer at cost or at cost plus an agreed upon mark-up. Promises that are not distinct at contract inception are combined into a single performance obligation. An option to acquire additional goods and/or services is evaluated on both quantitative and qualitative aspects to determine if such an option provides a material right to the customer that it would not have received without entering into the contract. If so, the option is accounted for as a separate performance obligation. If not, the option is considered a marketing offer and is accounted for as a separate contract upon the customer’s election. The transaction price generally includes fixed fees due at contract inception as well as fixed fees payable at the beginning and end of different phases of the discovery research support services performed. Where a fixed fee due at contract inception is an option to obtain additional goods or services and is considered to be a material right, we allocate the transaction price to the optional goods or services we expect to provide to the corresponding consideration we expect to receive. The Company utilizes either the expected value method or the most likely amount method to estimate the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price, as most appropriate in the circumstances. With respect to development and commercial milestone payments, at the inception of the arrangement, the Company evaluates whether the associated event is considered probable of achievement and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. In determining the transaction price the Company constrains the transaction price for variable consideration to limit its inclusion so that it only includes the amount for which it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation identified in the contract based on relative observable standalone selling prices. Revenue is recognized based on the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to each respective performance obligation when or as the performance obligation is satisfied by transferring a promised good and/or service to the customer. The Company generally uses output methods to measure the progress toward satisfaction of performance obligations that are satisfied over time. Where there is not a directly observable output to measure progress, an input which serves as a reasonable proxy for measuring progress is used. Due to different types of end customers and nature of work involved, revenue contracts require formal inspection and approval of experiments and research plans at each stage of work, therefore, the output method is the most faithful depiction of the Company’s performance. Royalty revenue is recognized in the period in which the obligation is satisfied and the corresponding sales by our corporate partners occur. For the licenses of our intellectual property, the Company recognizes revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees when the license is transferred to the customer and the customer is able to use and benefit from the license. In December 2025, the Company entered into a settlement and patent license agreement with Bruker Corporation, resolving the patent litigation between the two companies globally. As part of the settlement, Bruker will pay AbCellera $36.0 million up front as well as future royalty payments on sales of Bruker's Beacon® Optofluidic platform products worldwide through the life of the Bruker licensed patents. The Company recognized $36.0 million in licensing and royalty revenue in our consolidated statements of loss for the year ended December 31, 2025 and a corresponding receivable recognized within accounts and accrued receivables in our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2025. Collaborative arrangements We may enter into collaborative and other similar arrangements with respect to the development and commercialization of potential drug candidates. Collaborative arrangements are contractual agreements with third parties that involve a joint operating activity, typically a research and/or commercialization effort, where both we and our partner are active participants in the activity and are exposed to the significant risks and rewards of the activity. Our rights and obligations under our collaborative arrangements vary and typically involve the partners to jointly perform research and development activities and/or participate together in commercializing, marketing, promoting, manufacturing and/or distributing a drug product. These arrangements typically include milestone as well as royalty or profit-share payments, contingent upon the occurrence of certain future events linked to the success of the asset in development, as well as expense reimbursements from or payments to the collaboration partner. The Company considers the nature and contractual terms of arrangements and assesses whether an arrangement involves a joint operating activity pursuant to which the Company is an active participant and is exposed to significant risks and rewards dependent on the commercial success of the activity as described under ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements (ASC 808). For arrangements determined to be within the scope of ASC 808 where a collaborative partner is not a customer for certain research and development activities, the Company accounts for payments received for the reimbursement of research and development costs as a contra-expense in the period such expenses are incurred. If payments from the collaborative partner to the Company represent consideration from a customer in exchange for distinct goods and services provided, then the Company accounts for those payments within the scope of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). The Company applied ASC 606 to all collaborative arrangements to date. Segmented and enterprise-wide information The Company’s focus is on the discovery and development of antibody drugs, and manages its business as one reportable and operating segment. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise where separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (CODM) in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s CODM is the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews consolidated financial information on a company-wide basis for purposes of allocating resources and assessing financial performance. The accounting policies of the segment are the same as those described in Note 3. The CODM uses consolidated net loss, as reported on the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss, to evaluate the loss generated from segment assets in deciding the resources to be allocated towards the Company’s overall portfolio of downstream stakes and internal programs. Consolidated net loss is also used to monitor budget versus actual results in assessing performance of the Company and in establishing, in part, management compensation. The measure of segment assets is reported on the consolidated balance sheets as total assets. In 2023, $36.0 million and $2.0 million of revenues originated from services performed in Canada and the U.S., respectively, and in 2024, $26.2 million and $2.7 million of revenues originated from services performed in Canada and the U.S., respectively. In 2025, $64.0 million and $11.1 million of revenues originated from services performed in Canada and the U.S., respectively. Of the Company’s long-term assets at December 31, 2024, $505.1 million were located in Canada, $85.7 million in the U.S., and $18.4 million in other countries. Of the Company’s long-term assets at December 31, 2025, $532.1 million were located in Canada, $81.0 million in the U.S., and $15.6 million in other countries. In 2025, the Company's additions to property and equipment, contributions to joint ventures, and research and development expenses incurred in Canada were $36.6 million, $9.0 million, and $164.0 million, respectively, and nil, nil, and $22.8 million in foreign countries. Government contributions The Company receives government contributions that are comprised of non-repayable, conditionally repayable, and repayable portions which are dependent upon the Company’s co-investment expenditures over the term of the agreements, and are accounted for when it is probable that the grant will be received, and all associated conditions will be complied with. Non-repayable and conditionally repayable portions, where the conditions for repayment are non-probable, are accounted for as government grants. Government grants for expenditures on eligible research, development and capital expenditures are recognized ratably over the benefit period of the related expenditure for which the grants are intended to compensate in grants and incentives in other income. For repayable portions, the Company considers the contractual terms of the repayable portion of a below-market-rate government contribution, and has determined that the interest rate is affected by legal restrictions prescribed by a governmental agency. Therefore, the Company does not impute interest on the repayable portion of the government contribution, and it is measured equal to the proceeds received or accrued. The determination of the amount of the claim and the corresponding receivable and liability amounts require management's judgement and interpretation of eligible expenditures and repayment conditions in accordance with the terms of the programs. The reimbursement claims submitted by the Company are subject to review by the relevant government agencies. Functional currency The reporting currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar, and for the Dayhu JV and Beedie JV, is the Canadian dollar. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the functional currency at exchange rates at the date of the transactions. Period-end balances of monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated to the functional currency using the period-end foreign currency rates. Foreign currency gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss. The functional currency of the Dayhu JV and Beedie JV, our equity method investments, is Canadian dollars and are translated into U.S. dollars using the period-end exchange rate for assets and liabilities and the average exchange rates during the period for revenues, expenses, gains and losses. Foreign exchange gains or losses arising from the translation of these joint ventures’ assets and liabilities are included in foreign currency translation adjustment in the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss. Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash Cash and cash equivalents are defined as cash on hand and deposits held with banks with maturity dates of less than three months. Cash and cash equivalents that are restricted as to withdrawal or usage, in accordance with specific commercial arrangements, are presented as restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2024, we had $127.1 million cash, $29.2 million cash equivalents and $27.3 million restricted cash. Of the total restricted cash at December 31, 2024, $25.0 million is presented as a current asset, $2.1 million is included within other current assets, and $0.2 million is included within other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2025, we had $99.3 million cash, $29.3 million cash equivalents, and $26.7 million restricted cash. Of the total restricted cash at December 31, 2025, $25.0 million is presented as a current asset, $1.5 million is included within other current assets, and $0.2 million is included within other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Marketable securities The Company’s marketable securities consist of U.S. government agency securities, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, corporate bonds, and asset-backed securities, as well as Canadian term deposits. The Company has classified and accounted for these marketable securities as held-for-trading and they are reported at fair value with $2.1 million, $0.8 million, and $0.8 million of unrealized fair value gains for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively, recorded as a component of other on the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss. Non-marketable securities Non-marketable securities not accounted for under the equity method are accounted for under the measurement alternative. Under the measurement alternative, the carrying value is measured at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. Non-marketable securities of $32.3 million at December 31, 2024 and $32.5 million at December 31, 2025 are included as part of other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Adjustments are determined primarily based on a market approach as of the transaction date. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2024, and 2025, $1.8 million, $16.6 million, and $0.2 million fair value gains were recognized within other on the consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss, respectively. The fair value gain recognized in 2024 was due to the disposal of a non-marketable security. Accounts receivable The Company has trade receivables which are recorded at the invoiced amount. The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable on a regular basis based on an economic assessment of market conditions and review of customer financial history. The expected credit loss provision recorded as of December 31, 2023, 2024, and 2025 was immaterial. Property and equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for major additions and improvements to property and equipment are capitalized and repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Excluding land and assets not yet placed into service, p roperty and equipment are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the property and equipment as follows:
Asset |  | Rate
Building and building improvements |  | 20-40 years
Equipment |  | 3-10 years
Leasehold improvements are included within building and building improvements and are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life. Estimated useful lives are periodically assessed to determine if changes are appropriate. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of these assets and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gains or losses are included in loss from operations in the period of disposal. Costs for capital assets not yet placed into service are capitalized as construction-in-progress and depreciated once placed into service. Intangible assets Costs incurred to acquire patents and to prosecute and maintain intellectual property rights are expensed as incurred to sales, general, and administrative expense due to the uncertainty surrounding the drug development process and the uncertainty of future benefits. Patents and intellectual property acquired from third parties are capitalized and amortized over the remaining life of the patent, if related to approved drugs or if there are alternative future uses for the underlying technology. No patent or intellectual property costs have been capitalized to date. Acquired in process research and development (IPR&D) represents the fair value assigned to research and development assets that have not reached technological feasibility. IPR&D is classified as an indefinite-lived intangible asset and is not amortized. All research and development costs incurred subsequent to the acquisition of IPR&D are expensed as incurred. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Asset |  | Useful Life
License |  | 3-10 years
Technology |  | 3-20 years
The Company reviews the useful life for the intangible assets on an annual basis considering the current facts and circumstances available and may change due to legal, regulatory or contractual provisions that may limit the useful life, the effects of obsolescence, competition and other relevant economic factors. Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill The Company assesses the recoverability of its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and intangible assets subject to amortization, for indicators of impairment on each reporting date. If events or changes in circumstances indicate impairment, the Company measures recoverability by a comparison of the asset group's carrying amount to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group. When quoted market prices are not available, the Company uses the expected future cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risks associated with the recovery of the asset group as an estimate of fair value. No indicators of impairment of long-lived assets were identified at the respective balance sheet dates. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested annually for impairment as of October 1, and between annual tests if indicators of potential impairment exist. The Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment to first determine whether the quantitative impairment test is necessary. This involves an assessment of qualitative factors to determine the existence of events or circumstances that would indicate whether it is more likely than not that the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its fair value. If the qualitative assessment indicates it is not more likely than not that the carrying amount is less than its fair value, a quantitative impairment test is not required. Where a quantitative impairment test is required, the procedure is to compare the indefinite-lived intangible asset’s fair value with its carrying amount. An impairment loss is recognized as the difference between the indefinite-lived intangible asset’s carrying amount and its fair value. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis as of October 1, or more frequently if an indicator of impairment is present. We have one operating segment and reporting unit, therefore our review of goodwill impairment is performed at the entity-wide level. As part of the impairment evaluation, the Company may elect to perform an assessment of qualitative factors. If this qualitative assessment indicates that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit that includes the goodwill is less than its carrying value, a quantitative impairment test is not required. Where a quantitative impairment test is required, the procedure is to compare the indefinite-lived intangible asset’s fair value with its carrying amount. An impairment loss is recognized as the difference between the indefinite-lived intangible asset’s carrying amount and its fair value. The Company further concluded there were no impairment indicators related to goodwill as at December 31, 2024 and 2025. As at December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2025, the goodwill balance was $47.8 million. There were no additions to goodwill in 2024 or 2025 and accumulated impairment as at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025 was nil. Leases The lease term includes all periods covered by renewal and termination options where the Company is reasonably certain to exercise the renewal options or not to exercise the termination options. Corresponding right-of-use assets are recognized consisting of the lease liabilities, initial direct costs and any lease incentive payments. Lease liabilities are drawn down as lease payments are made and right-of-use assets are depreciated over the term of the lease. Operating lease expenses are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, consisting of interest accrued on the lease liability and depreciation of the right-of-use asset. Lease payments are remeasured when a contingency upon which some or all of the variable lease payments to be paid over the remainder of the lease is resolved. Lease payments on short-term operating leases with lease terms twelve months or less are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has elected to not separate non-lease elements embedded in its lease agreements. For the years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2025, all of our leases are classified as operating leases. Research and development costs Research and development costs are expensed in the period incurred. These costs are related to spending for internal program development and partner projects and include required materials, salaries and benefits including stock-based compensation, and third-party research and development service contracts. These costs exclude depreciation and amortization. Income taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the deferred asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) and deferred tax liabilities (“DTLs”) for the expected future tax consequences of existing differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards for tax purposes. The DTAs and DTLs are computed using enacted tax rates and the effect of a change in enacted tax rates on DTAs and DTLs is recognized in income in the period of enactment. The Company recognizes DTAs to the extent that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, all available positive and negative evidence is considered, including, but not limited to, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. Valuation allowances are established for certain deferred tax assets to reduce the DTA to a level which, more-likely-than-not, will be realized. Assets and liabilities are established for uncertain tax positions taken or positions expected to be taken in income tax returns when such positions, in the Company’s judgement, do not meet a more-likely-than-not threshold based on the technical merits of the positions. The Company realizes the largest amount of the tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns in the United States, which includes eligible subsidiaries. In addition, we file income tax returns in state, local and foreign jurisdictions as applicable. The Company's income tax provision is calculated and allocated under the separate return method. Income tax credit (“ITC”) policy The Company earns income tax credits in jurisdictions in which it incurs eligible research and development expenditures. The Company uses the flow-through method to account for ITCs. Under this method, the ITCs subject to income tax accounting are recognized as a reduction to income tax expense in the year they are earned. Stock-based compensation The Company accounts for awards of stock options and shares to directors, employees, consultants, and non-employees using the fair value method. Under this method, stock-based compensation expense is measured at the fair value at the date of grant and is expensed over the award’s vesting period. The requisite service period generally equals the vesting period of the awards. Equity classified awards are measured using their grant date fair value. For equity classified awards, a corresponding increase in additional paid-in capital is recorded when stock-based compensation is recognized. When stock options are exercised, share capital is credited by the sum of the consideration received and the related portion of the stock-based compensation previously recorded in additional paid-in capital. The effects of forfeitures of options and share awards are accounted for as they occur. Equity method investments The Company accounts for its investments in equity-accounted joint ventures using the equity method. Under the equity method, the initial cost of the investment is adjusted for subsequent additional investments and the Company’s proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions, while distributions received from equity method investees are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows using the nature of the distribution approach. The Company does not control the equity-accounted investments and as a result, the Company does not have the unilateral ability to determine whether cash generated by its equity-accounted investees is retained within the equity-investee or is distributed to the Company and other owners. In addition, equity-accounted investees do not control the timing of such distributions to the Company and other owners. The Company evaluates its investments in joint ventures for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such investments may have experienced an other-than-temporary decline in value below carrying value. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, the carrying value is written down to its estimated fair value and the resulting impairment is recorded in other income in the Company’s consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss. Net loss per share Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss in the period by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net earnings per share is computed by dividing the net earnings in the period by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, including potential dilutive common shares. Potential dilutive common shares are excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share because including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect. For purpose of this calculation, outstanding stock options and restricted share units (RSUs) are considered potential dilutive common shares. Changes in significant accounting policies Recent accounting pronouncements adopted In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. This ASU requires public entities to disclose specific categories in the effective tax rate reconciliation, as well as expanded disclosures on income taxes paid by jurisdictions and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. This standard has been applied prospectively for the year ended December 31, 2025, and enhances existing disclosures included in Note 13. Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2024-03, Disclosures about Expenses. This ASU enhances the transparency of expense information presented in a company's financial statements by requiring disaggregation of certain expense categories and providing additional disclosures about the nature of these expenses. The amendments are effective for public business entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2024-03 on its financial statements. While the Company expects the adoption of this ASU could result in increased disclosures related to its expenses, it does not anticipate the amendments will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

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