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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).
Consolidation
The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Bicara. The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned, controlled subsidiary. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of and during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience when available and on other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include but are not limited to: the estimated costs of research and development activities, the fair value of tranche right liabilities, and the fair values of common stock and stock awards and associated stock-based compensation expense. The Company assesses estimates on an ongoing basis; however, actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock
The Company recorded shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock at their respective fair values on the dates of issuance, net of issuance costs. The Company applied the guidance in ASC 480-10-S99-3A, SEC Staff Announcement: Classification and Measurement of Redeemable Securities, and therefore classified the Seed Series, Series B and Series C convertible preferred stock as mezzanine equity. The convertible preferred stock was recorded outside of stockholders’ deficit because, in the event of certain deemed liquidation events considered not solely within the Company’s control, such as a merger or consolidation and sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, the convertible preferred stock would have become redeemable at the option of the holders. In the event of a change of control of the Company, proceeds received from the sale of such shares would have been distributed in accordance with the corresponding liquidation preferences. The Company did not adjust the carrying values of the convertible preferred stock to the deemed liquidation values of such shares since a liquidation event was not probable at any of the reporting dates.
Series B Tranche Rights
Series B Tranche Rights
Freestanding financial instruments that permit the holder to acquire shares that are either puttable by the holder, redeemable or contingently redeemable are required to be reported as liabilities in the consolidated financial statements. We present such liabilities on the balance sheets at their estimated fair values. Changes in fair value of the liability are calculated each reporting period, and any change in value are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
The Series B Preferred Stock issuance as described in Note 6 Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock to these condensed consolidated financial statements, included tranche rights (“Series B Tranche Rights”) to purchasers who participated in the initial Series B Preferred Stock issuance. The Series B Tranche Rights were determined to be a “freestanding financial instrument” as defined in the ASC Master Glossary as they are legally detachable and separately exercisable. Management assessed the freestanding financial instrument under ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and determined that such rights should be accounted for as a liability at fair value given they impose an obligation on the Company to issue shares that are contingently redeemable. The Series B Tranche Rights were revalued at each reporting period until settlement, with changes in the fair value recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements
Certain assets and liabilities are carried at fair value under U.S. GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. A framework is used for measuring fair value utilizing a three-tier hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:
Level 1 – defined as observable inputs, such as quoted prices unadjusted in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 – defined as inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
Level 3 – defined as significant unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore, requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions
The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial assets (which include cash) and liabilities (which include accounts payable) approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments and have been classified as Level 1. The Series B Tranche Rights were classified as Level 3 financial liabilities
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held in standard checking accounts and money market funds at two financial institutions. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of 90 days or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. At times, the Company’s cash deposits may be in excess of insured limits. Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash and does not have off-balance sheet concentrations of credit risk.
Leases
Leases
ASC 842, Leases, requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of classification. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term discounted using an appropriate incremental borrowing rate. The incremental borrowing rate is based on the estimated interest rate for borrowing over a term similar to that of the lease payments at commencement of the lease. The operating lease expense for the operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components of contracts.
The Company adopted this new standard on January 1, 2022 using the required modified retrospective approach and utilizing the effective date as its date of initial application. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Upon adoption, the Company elected, to apply the ‘package of practical expedients’ which permits the Company (i) not to reassess whether expired existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) not to reassess the classification of expired or existing leases, if any, and (iii) not to reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases.
Research and Development Expense
Research and Development Expense
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred in accordance with ASC 730, Research and Development (“ASC 730”). Research and development expenses include costs directly attributable to the conduct of research and development programs, including compensation costs, which includes salaries and benefits, stock-based compensation expense and the cost of services provided by outside contractors.
The Company capitalizes advance payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities and recognizes expense as the related goods are delivered or services are performed. The Company also records expenses and accruals for estimated costs of research and development activities, including third party contract services for clinical research and contract manufacturing. The Company bases its estimates on the best information available at the time. Costs for certain research and development activities are recognized based on the pattern of performance of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of billings incurred, and are reflected in the consolidated financial statements as prepaid expenses or as accrued research and development expenses.
The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract, and may result in uneven payment flows to the Company’s vendors. Billing terms and payments are reviewed by management to ensure estimates of outstanding obligations are appropriate as of period end. Tracking the progress of completion for clinical trial and contract manufacturing activities performed by third parties allows the Company to record the appropriate expense and accruals under the terms of the agreements.
General and Administrative Expense
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related benefits, including share-based compensation expense, related to the Company's executive, finance and other support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include professional fees for legal, auditing, tax, consulting services, investor relations, IT and office expenses, rent and insurance.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based employee and nonemployee compensation awards in accordance with provisions of ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”)ASC 718 requires the recognition of stock-based compensation expense, using a fair-value based method, for costs related to all stock-based compensation awards. We use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of options. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of judgment to develop input assumptions, some of which are highly subjective, including: (i) the fair value of our common stock on the date of grant; (ii) the expected term of the award; (iii) the expected volatility; (iv) the risk-free interest rate; and (v) expected dividends. In applying these assumptions, we consider the following factors:
Fair Value of Common Stock: The Company’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market and its value is determined by the market price on the Nasdaq Global Market as of the date of the grant.
Prior to the Company's IPO, the grant date fair value of stock awards granted under its 2019 Stock Option and Grant Plan were determined using the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, as set forth in the applicable plan document. Due to the absence of an active market for the Company's common stock, the Company utilized methodologies in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, such as option-pricing method or OPM and probability weighted expected return method or PWERM. The OPM method allowed for the allocation of the Company's equity value among the various equity capital owners and considered a variety of factors, included the illiquid nature of the common stock, recent transactions involving the Company’s stock, the effect of the rights and preferences of the preferred shareholders, and the prospects of a liquidity event. PWERM involved the estimation of future potential outcomes for the Company, as well as values and probabilities associated with each respective potential outcome which included an IPO scenario or continued operation as a private company scenario. Among other factors were the Company's financial position and historical financial performance, the status of clinical developments, the composition and ability of the current research and management team, an evaluation or benchmark of the Company's competition, and the current business climate in the marketplace. Significant changes to the key assumptions underlying the factors used could result in different fair values of common stock at each valuation date.
Expected Term: The expected term represents the period that the options granted are expected to be outstanding and is determined using the simplified method (based on the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term). The expected life is applied to the stock option grant group as a whole as we do not expect substantially different exercise or post-vesting termination behavior among our employee population.
Expected Volatility: We used an average historical stock price volatility of comparable public companies within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry that were deemed to be representative of future stock price trends due to absence of an active market for the Company’s common stock.
Risk-Free Interest Rate: We based the risk-free interest rate over the expected term of the options based on the constant maturity rate of U.S. Treasury securities with similar maturities as of the date of the grant.
Expected Dividend: We have not paid and do not anticipate paying any dividends in the near future. Therefore, the expected dividend yield was zero.
For awards that vest based solely on achievement of a service condition, the Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the period during which the award holder provides such services. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur and reverses any previously recognized compensation cost associated with forfeited awards. In accordance with ASU 2018-07, the Company accounts for share-based compensation for awards granted to non-employees in a similar fashion to the way it accounts for share-based compensation awards to employees.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss consists of net loss and certain changes in stockholders’ equity that are excluded from net loss, of which we have none. Our comprehensive loss equals our net loss for all periods presented.
Net Loss Per Common Share
Net Loss Per Common Share
Net loss per common share was computed using the two-class method required due to the participating securities, such securities did not participate in net losses and therefore did not impact the Company’s net loss from continuing operations per share calculations.
Basic net loss per common share is determined by dividing the net loss applicable to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. Outstanding common stock options, unvested restricted stock awards and redeemable convertible preferred shares are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect would be anti-dilutive.
Segments
Segments
The Company has one operating segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker, its Chief Executive Officer, manages the Company’s operations on a consolidated basis for the purpose of allocating resources.
Accounting Pronouncements Issued and Not Adopted
Accounting Pronouncements and Significant Accounting Policies
The Company reviews new accounting standards as they are issued by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies. As of September 30, 2024, the Company has not identified any new standards that it believes will have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Accounting Pronouncements Issued and Not Adopted as of September 30, 2024
Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires that an entity report segment information in accordance with Topic 280, Segment Reporting. The amendment in the ASU is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, on a retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Accounting Standards Update 2023-09—Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, or ASU 2023-09. ASU 2023-09 focuses on income tax disclosures around effective tax rates and cash income taxes paid. The standard largely follows the proposed ASU issued in 2023 with several important modifications and clarifications. ASU 2023-09 is effective for public entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 and for all other business for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption is permitted, and the Company is evaluating the impact of this guidance on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
The Company reviewed additional recent accounting pronouncements and concluded they are either not applicable or that the Company does not expect adoption to have a material effect on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Income Tax Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are recognized based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities using statutory rates. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Due to losses incurred since inception and the uncertainty surrounding the realization of the favorable tax attributes in future tax returns, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against the Company’s otherwise recognizable net deferred tax assets.